Meta has finalized an $18 billion settlement with nearly all US states, the District of Columbia, and three US territories as part of a lawsuit over child safety practices. The agreement requires Facebook and Instagram to implement several protective measures for younger users, including usage time restrictions, screen time warnings, and enhanced parental controls over children’s accounts. The company has not admitted wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
These safety features currently apply only to US users but could establish a precedent for global implementation across social media platforms. The UK has already taken a different regulatory approach, having announced an outright ban on social media access for children under 16, set to take effect in 2027, along with curfews and restrictions for ages 16 and 17. The UK government indicated it is monitoring the Meta settlement closely and may seek similar measures from platforms operating in its jurisdiction.
Meta has called on competitors including TikTok, YouTube, and Snap to adopt comparable child safety measures. The company argued for a level regulatory playing field, stating that restrictions on one platform may simply redirect younger users to less regulated alternatives. As of the settlement announcement, these competing platforms have not publicly committed to implementing similar features, though they maintain they already have robust child safety policies in place.
Of the $18 billion settlement, 30 percent is contingent on TikTok and YouTube agreeing to implement child safety measures. The remaining funds will be distributed among states over the course of a decade, with individual states receiving hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for mental health services, education programs, and youth support initiatives addressing social media-related harms. Child safety advocates noted the settlement represents progress but argue it falls short of comprehensive protections for minors.
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