Meta has agreed to pay $US17 billion (AUD$23.6 billion) and roll out sweeping child‑safety measures across Facebook and Instagram, ending a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settling claims brought by 47 US states.
The settlement halts a high‑profile federal trial in California that was expected to see CEO Mark Zuckerberg testify before a jury. States including California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among the 29 that sued Meta in 2023, accusing the company of deliberately designing addictive features that harmed young users.
In Virginia alone, the agreement is valued at $353 million, making it one of the largest consumer protection settlements in the state’s history. Attorney General Jay Jones said Meta had “intentionally deceived the public” about design choices that “wreaked havoc on youth mental health,” adding that the settlement would “put an end to these dangerous practices and deliver meaningful relief.”
The lawsuits argued Meta contributed to the youth mental‑health crisis by creating features engineered to keep children hooked, while concealing their risks. They also alleged Meta violated federal law by collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent.
The trial began last week in Oakland under US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri had just started testifying, defending Meta’s progress on child safety and privacy, when news of the settlement emerged. Additional cases filed by nine other attorneys general were expected to proceed later this year.
Under the proposed agreement, Meta will adopt a suite of new safety tools, including daily time‑limit caps and enforced usage pauses for children on Instagram and Facebook measures aimed at reducing compulsive engagement and improving digital wellbeing.
The settlement marks a historic moment in the battle over youth safety online, signalling a major shift in how tech giants may be held accountable for the impact of their platforms on children.
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