Meta reaches $16.7 billion settlement in social media addiction case

by · UPI

Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Meta will pay $16.7 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by 29 state attorneys general over the mental health risks posed to children by its social media platforms.

Court filings on Wednesday detail changes Meta must implement to safeguard its platform for the use of minors. Those requirements include limits on daily use, blocking access at night, more parental tools and greater proof of age standards.

The total settlement payment may reach up to $17.1 billion, several state attorneys general said. That figure hinges on other platforms, including TikTok and YouTube, agreeing to also settle their cases with the states.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that his state may receive between $1.5 billion to $2.1 billion in the settlement.

"Today, we have secured a settlement with Meta that will make social media less dangerous for our kids and make a world of difference for children and their families," Bonta said in a statement. "Meta has agreed to make massive transformations that will reduce the risk of harm from its platforms -- and will do it within months."

As part of the settlement, all parties, including Meta, waive all rights to appeal the final judgment.

Meta's initial payment in the settlement will total about $12 billion.

"The focus of this case was to protect our kids: stopping notifications and alerts at night and when they are in school, encouraging them to take breaks from social media, protecting them against harmful features," Phil Weiser, Colorado attorney general, said in a statement.

The case brought by U.S. states is one of several across the globe probing into social media companies over the harms they present to children. Elsewhere, countries like Australia have implemented age restrictions and call for the end of addictive features that encourage compulsive use, such as endless scrolling.

Meta is the subject of more lawsuits in the United States still. Several school districts and individual claims are filed lawsuits against Meta and other social media platforms for contributing to mental health problems for children.

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