Meta Platforms has reached a major settlement with 47 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and territories, agreeing to pay up to 17,1 billion dollars and make significant changes to its products.
The settlement, approved by a court on Wednesday, resolves claims that the company deliberately created addiction in children and teenagers through Facebook and Instagram, violating child privacy and consumer protection laws.
Meta will initially pay about 12 billion dollars, with an additional 5 billion contingent on other platforms such as Snap, TikTok, and YouTube also settling similar lawsuits.
Separately, the company agreed with Texas to pay about 1 billion dollars over similar allegations.
As part of the settlement, Meta is required to introduce a two-hour daily usage limit for Instagram and Facebook for teenagers, automatic pauses after 15, 60, and 90 minutes of continuous scrolling, and restrict access from midnight to 6 a.m.
Notifications will be turned off during school hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the company will ban a number of features that contribute to mental health problems.
The changes will affect all teenage users in the U.S. and will last at least five years.
The settlement is the result of years of investigations and litigation that began in 2023 and was approved by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
But will it fundamentally change the situation for millions of young users?
Other lawsuits from school districts and individuals remain pending, and some are already scheduled for the coming months.
