Meta Settles $18 Billion Lawsuit Over Teen Social Media Harms

Meta Settles Landmark $18 Billion Lawsuit Over Teen Social Media Risks

Meta has agreed to pay more than $18 billion to settle a high-profile lawsuit brought by 29 U.S. state attorneys general, avoiding a potentially damaging trial over allegations that its platforms intentionally designed addictive features harming teen users. The settlement, announced after the trial began last week in California, includes sweeping changes to Meta’s youth safety policies.

Key Settlement Terms

Under the agreement, Meta will implement multiple restrictions for users under 18, including:

• Default two-hour daily usage limit for Facebook and Instagram (adjustable only by parents)
• Overnight block on Meta apps between midnight and 6 a.m.
• Muted notifications during school hours (8 a.m.–3 p.m.)
• Break reminders every 15 minutes of continuous use, plus alerts at 60/90 minutes of daily usage
• Optional non-algorithmic feed and disabled autoplay for teens
• Hidden like/reaction counts on posts by default
• Bans on cosmetic surgery/extreme makeup filters for teen accounts

Meta also pledged to enhance age-verification tools and parental supervision features. Most measures will remain active for 10 years, with time limits enforced for at least five years.

Meta’s Stance and Industry Call

In a statement, Meta emphasized its commitment to teen safety:

“Ensuring teens have a safe and productive experience on our platforms is an absolute imperative... We partnered with state attorneys general to set a new industry standard.”

The company simultaneously urged TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar rules, noting that its long-term commitments would extend only if rival platforms comply. Meta reiterated its call for app stores to enforce stricter age checks.

Legal Context

The lawsuit alleged Meta knowingly deployed addictive designs despite risks to mental health, particularly for teens. Had the case proceeded, Meta could have faced over $1 trillion in damages from user claims. The settlement preempts further disclosures about internal operations that might have emerged during the trial.

Like.tg will continue monitoring updates on this landmark case and its implications for social media regulation.