Meta Settles $16.68 Billion Lawsuit Over Youth Addiction Claims
Meta Platforms has agreed to a $16.68 billion settlement regarding allegations of child addiction linked to Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit, initiated by a coalition of 29 US states, accused Meta of designing its platforms to be addictive for children and misleading consumers about safety. As part of the settlement, Meta will implement significant changes, including daily usage limits of two hours for users under 18, which can only be lifted by parents. Other features include blocking notifications during school hours and removing cosmetic procedure filters. The settlement requires court approval and will be paid over ten years, with legal fees estimated at $10 billion. Meta faced potential fines of up to $1.4 trillion but had been negotiating a penalty closer to $200 billion. The company maintains it did not admit wrongdoing.
Published 3 days ago • 26 Aug 2026, 07:51 PM IST