Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to pay as much as $17.1 billion and make major changes to how its platforms protect children and teenagers.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by 47 states and several U.S. territories, which accused Meta of designing its social media platforms in ways that encouraged young people to spend more time online while failing to adequately protect them from harmful content and interactions.
Under the agreement, Meta will strengthen age-verification systems and introduce new restrictions for users under 18. Teenagers will face limits on how long they can use Facebook and Instagram each day, along with overnight access restrictions and fewer notifications during school hours.
Parents will also receive expanded tools to monitor and manage their children’s social media use. The company will make changes to its recommendation systems and strengthen efforts to identify and respond to potentially harmful content involving young users.
For families, the settlement could mean greater parental control and additional safeguards for children who use Meta’s platforms. State officials said the agreement could also set a broader standard for how social media companies address concerns about youth safety.
The $17.1 billion agreement is among the largest settlements involving a major technology company. Money from the settlement is expected to support state programs addressing the effects of excessive social media use, including youth education and mental health initiatives.
Meta has denied wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement. The agreement still requires court approval before it can take effect.
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