Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 52 US attorneys general following claims that Facebook and Instagram have harmed children and teenagers. The case, filed by 29 US states, could become one of the biggest financial settlements involving a social media company and child safety.
Under the agreement, which still requires judicial approval, Meta will introduce stricter rules for users under 18 in participating US states and territories. The measures include tighter screen-time limits, stronger parental controls and restrictions on overnight access. Teenagers will also receive reminders after 15 minutes of continuous use and when their daily usage reaches 60 and 90 minutes.
The company said teenagers will be blocked from accessing its apps between midnight and 6am, while notifications will be muted by default between 8am and 3pm during school hours. Teens will not be able to switch off the screen-time limit without parental permission. Meta also plans to allow young users to choose a non-algorithmic feed, disable autoplay and hide likes and reactions by default.
The financial cost of the deal is equally striking. Meta said the approximately $18 billion payment will be made in annual instalments over 10 years, with participating states expected to receive about $12.7 billion. The company also expects to record around $10 billion in legal expenses in the third quarter of 2026. However, about $5.3 billion of the settlement will depend on TikTok and YouTube meeting specified conditions.
Meta is now calling on TikTok and YouTube to join the teen-safety framework, arguing that young people move between several social media platforms rather than staying on one app. The agreement will also create an independent foundation to fund research into teen wellbeing, while an independent auditor will review Meta’s compliance annually for five years. With most of the measures expected to remain in place for a decade, the settlement could mark a major shift in how social media companies approach children’s online safety.
source: The cable
