Meta reached a settlement on Wednesday with 29 US states that had accused the technology company of harming children through addictive and dangerous products. The agreement includes payment of up to $18 billion and represents a significant regulatory shift after congressional efforts to implement similar protections have stalled. The company’s stock price showed little reaction to the announcement, rising modestly despite the substantial financial commitment.
Under the settlement terms, Meta will implement several new safety features on Facebook and Instagram that will apply by default to users under 18. These measures include a two-hour daily usage limit, restricted access between midnight and 6am, disabled push notifications during overnight hours and school time, and the ability for parents to modify feeds to non-personalized versions and disable autoplay functionality. Parents will retain exclusive control over disabling these protective features. Meta is positioning the settlement as a model for other social media platforms to adopt, though critics contend the changes remain insufficient. The reforms align with restrictions already being implemented by UK and Australian authorities, and both governments have requested Meta extend these protections to their respective young users.
Beyond the American settlement, Meta confronts multiple legal proceedings internationally. In Ethiopia, a case alleges Facebook failed to moderate content inciting violence during civil conflict, resulting in deaths including a chemistry professor whose personal information and death threats were amplified through the platform’s algorithm. The lawsuit, filed in Kenyan courts, seeks $2.4 billion in damages. Similarly, Scottish parents are pursuing a wrongful death suit against Meta after their teenage son died by suicide following involvement with an Instagram sextortion operation. These cases highlight ongoing concerns about content moderation deficiencies, algorithmic amplification of harmful material, and the platform’s response to violence and exploitation across different global regions.
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