Two days into a precedent-setting trial in which the tech giant was accused of designing addictive platforms, Meta has agreed to a mammoth $17 billion settlement. In addition to the financial penalties — just a portion of the potential $200 billion payout from multiple lawsuits filed against the company — Meta has also committed to making platform changes intended to limit teens' time online. Such changes include one-hour daily limits, screen time features like night mode, and stronger age assurance measures.
The case was brought forth by 29 state attorneys general and represented claims from 47 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories as part of a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL). Meta will pay $12 billion to the 52 state attorneys general over 10 years, adding an additionsl $5 billion if other defendants, including Snap, TikTok, and YouTube, also agree to the settlement.
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"I’m pleased to announce that Meta has reached an agreement with a bipartisan group of state attorneys general from around the country on a new set of rules governing teens’ use of social media," wrote Meta chief legal officer C.J. Mahoney. "The framework we’ve negotiated will empower parents to easily manage how their children access our platforms. Our new Time Limit commitments, Night Mode features and usage limits during school hours set the right path forward for our whole industry, but this framework will only work if all our peers join us."
