Meta and a group of state attorneys general announced on Wednesday a settlement agreement in which the social media giant will pay up to $17 billion and make changes to its apps after allegations that its technology harms children’s mental health.
The company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, will pay a potential maximum of roughly $17 billion to 47 states, three U.S. territories and the District of Columbia over 10 years as part of the settlement, which has not yet been approved by a court, according to court documents.
Meta also proposed making a slew of changes to its user terms for those 18 years old and under, including a default two-hour daily time limit across Instagram and Facebook, the ability to select a non-algorithmic feed, and prohibiting “extreme makeup filters.”
The lawsuit was brought by attorneys general of California, Colorado, New Jersey and Kentucky, as part of a coalition of dozens of states and U.S. territories. They alleged, among other things, that the company harmed children with its technology and fueled a youth mental health crisis.
The case went to trial in a California federal court last week. Megan O’Neill, an attorney representing the states, said the company got users addicted to its social media platforms and deceived the public.
“Hook the users. Hold them for as long as they can. Harvest their data. Hide the truth from the public when making public statements,” O’Neill said. “Meta’s business model worked especially well for kids.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Lisa Rubin contributed reporting.
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