Meta Platforms has agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle a landmark multistate lawsuit accusing Facebook and Instagram of deliberately designing features that encouraged addictive use among children and teenagers, while failing to adequately protect young users from harm.
The settlement, announced on Wednesday, August 26, brings an abrupt end to a closely watched federal trial in California that had the potential to become one of the most consequential legal tests yet of the responsibility of social media companies for their impact on children.
The agreement involves 47 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, according to state attorneys general. It is still subject to court approval.
Meta has denied wrongdoing and does not admit liability under the settlement.
What is Meta paying for?
