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Meta agrees to $18 billion settlement over US teen safety lawsuits FAST-MOVING
Meta has reached a landmark settlement with a coalition of US states and territories, agreeing to pay up to $18 billion to resolve lawsuits alleging its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, were designed to be addictive and harmful to the mental health of minors. The settlement, which involves 48 states and three territories, will be distributed in annual installments over a 10-year period.
Beyond financial compensation, the agreement mandates significant changes to how Meta's platforms operate for users under 18. Key safety measures include a default daily usage limit of two hours, night-time access restrictions between midnight and 6 a.m., and the silencing of most push notifications during school hours. Meta will also hide 'like' counts by default and ban image filters that simulate cosmetic procedures to protect adolescent body image. Additionally, users will have the option to choose non-algorithmic, non-personalized feeds.
The settlement includes a unique contingency: a portion of the total payout is tied to whether competitors like TikTok and YouTube implement similar safety measures and financial contributions. An independent auditor will be appointed to oversee the implementation of these new safety standards. While the agreement is specific to the US, Meta has publicly called on other major social media companies to adopt comparable protections to ensure consistent safety for young users across the industry.
Entities
Facebook · Instagram · James Uthmeier · Meta · Rob Bonta · TikTok · YouTube
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier rejected the settlement, calling it 'peanuts' and stating he will pursue a separate case. www.ilfogliettone.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] The settlement includes mandates for two-hour daily screen time limits for minors. raillynews.com · www.world-today-news.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A class action lawsuit has been filed in Milan against Meta and TikTok alleging their platforms cause behavioral mental health issues in minors.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A $5.3 billion portion of the settlement is contingent upon TikTok and YouTube matching safety measures and financial penalties. www.world-today-news.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Platforms must implement a default night mode to reduce notifications and feeds during sleep hours. raillynews.com · www.world-today-news.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Meta agreed to a settlement of approximately $17.6 billion to $18 billion to resolve lawsuits regarding child online safety and mental health. www.ilfogliettone.it · raillynews.com · www.world-today-news.com
- [● 8 SOURCES] The lawsuits alleged that Meta's platforms were designed to be addictive to minors and caused mental health harm. elineanoticias.com · www.canalcapital.gov.co · krdo.com · newstalk1280.com · womiowensboro.com · +3 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] Notifications will be silenced during school hours, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. newstalk1280.com · womiowensboro.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] Meta agreed to pay between $16.68 billion and $18 billion to settle lawsuits from various U.S. states. elineanoticias.com · www.canalcapital.gov.co · krdo.com · newstalk1280.com · womiowensboro.com · +4 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The settlement includes a default two-hour daily limit for users under 18. www.canalcapital.gov.co · newstalk1280.com · womiowensboro.com · raillynews.com · www.world-today-news.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] An independent auditor will oversee the implementation of the new safety measures. krdo.com · internet.watch.impress.co.jp · nachrichten.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Access to platforms will be restricted between midnight and 6 a.m. for minors. www.canalcapital.gov.co · newstalk1280.com · womiowensboro.com