Meta Agrees to $16.7 Billion Settlement Over Child Safety Lawsuit

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to a substantial $16.7 billion settlement to resolve a major lawsuit concerning child safety on its platforms. The lawsuit, filed by U.S. states, accused Meta of intentionally designing its applications to foster addiction among children while downplaying the associated risks to parents and the public.

Under the terms of the settlement, Meta will impose significant restrictions on users under the age of 18. Their daily usage of Instagram and Facebook will be capped at two hours. Furthermore, access to both platforms, excluding direct messaging features, will be blocked between midnight and 6 a.m. These limitations, which can only be overridden by a parent, are expected to take effect in signatory countries within six months.

Beyond time limits, the agreement mandates several other changes aimed at enhancing child safety. Notifications will be turned off from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and during school hours. The visibility of 'like' counts will be hidden, and filters that mimic cosmetic surgery will be deactivated. While Meta has agreed to these terms, the company retains the right to deny the allegations that led to the lawsuit.

The legal battle has seen Meta face several setbacks in U.S. courts recently. This settlement follows a jury's conclusion in Los Angeles that Meta and Google's YouTube acted negligently by not adequately informing users about the addictive nature of their services. A New Mexico court also ordered Meta to pay over half a billion dollars to aid children harmed by platform use. The trial concerning the child safety lawsuit had begun in Oakland, California, the previous week.