Meta Agrees to $17 Billion Settlement Over Child Addiction

Meta Platforms Inc. agreed to pay up to $17 billion to settle claims from 47 states and several territories alleging that Facebook and Instagram were designed to addict children. As part of the agreement, the company will implement nighttime and daily use limits for children and strengthen barriers for age-restricted content.

While attorneys general intend for the funds to repair social media harms and expand youth crisis intervention, approximately 70% of the money remains at state discretion without general reporting requirements. Several states have already designated funds: Mississippi will support mental health and outdoor recreation, Iowa is creating an Ensuring Child Safety Online fund, and California is establishing an e-Safety Advisory Commission following its ban on addictive features for users under 16.

Florida opted out of the settlement. Attorney General James Uthmeier is pursuing separate litigation to force the removal of children under 14 from Meta platforms, characterizing the multistate deal as a slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is directing his team to identify evidence-based strategies for teen mental health to ensure budgetary needs do not distract from the issue.