Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion (€14.6bn) and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced on Wednesday.
California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023, but the deals have now cut the trial short.
Child safety advocates were hoping to see chief executive Mark Zuckerberg take the stand before a jury in federal court in California.
The settlement is worth $353 million (€302m) in Virginia alone and is one of the biggest in the history of US state consumer protection, according to attorney general Jay Jones.
"For years, Meta intentionally deceived the public about the addictive and harmful design features that have wreaked havoc on youth mental health," Jones said in a statement.
