Meta Platforms has agreed to pay as much as US$18 billion over the next decade to resolve lawsuits brought by nearly all U.S. states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that encouraged compulsive use among children.
The settlement concludes a federal trial involving claims that Meta’s platforms harmed young users and that the company did not adequately disclose associated safety risks. Meta accepted the settlement without admitting wrongdoing.
Under the agreement, Facebook and Instagram use by teenage users will generally be limited to two hours per day. Teenagers will also be blocked from accessing the platforms between midnight and 6 a.m. unless their parents provide permission.
Most push notifications will be disabled during typical school hours—from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.—and Meta must strengthen safeguards intended to prevent minors from viewing age-restricted material.
The settlement includes approximately US$12.7 billion in guaranteed payments. A further US$5 billion could become payable depending on whether competing platforms—including TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube—adopt comparable protections for children.
The agreement does not require Meta to eliminate personalized recommendations or targeted advertising. Florida and New Mexico are not participating in the settlement and are continuing separate legal proceedings.
The resolution could influence thousands of other cases involving alleged social-media harm and may establish a broader regulatory model for how technology companies manage accounts belonging to minors.
