Meta to Pay Billions and Change Rules for U.S. Teens

Meta has reached a settlement with U.S. states, agreeing to pay up to $16.68 billion to resolve a lawsuit that accused its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, of harming children. The states alleged that the social media giants fostered addiction among minors, misled users about safety protocols, and improperly collected data from underage users.

The agreement was reached in a California court where 29 states had filed a lawsuit against Meta. As part of the settlement, Meta will revise its usage rules for teenagers on Facebook and Instagram. New regulations will include daily time limits, and access will be blocked for minors during nighttime hours.

Despite agreeing to the settlement, Meta maintains that it has not violated any regulations. The company's agreement to these terms aims to close the legal chapter on these allegations. The settlement also includes provisions for enhanced safety measures and data collection practices concerning underage users on its popular social media platforms.