Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion to settle a sweeping multistate lawsuit brought by nearly every U.S. state and territory over the company’s knowing role in making Facebook and Instagram addictive to minors. The settlement, announced August 26, is the largest of its kind — California Attorney General Rob Bonta called it “way higher than opioids.” A separate $1 billion agreement with Texas was reached simultaneously. Attorneys general alleged that Meta violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting data from children under 12 using only self-reported ages, and that the company concealed internal research showing its platforms were harmful to young users.
Beyond the financial penalty, Meta agreed to substantial platform changes that must take effect within months. Users under 18 will face a daily 2-hour usage cap, a platform lockout between midnight and 6 a.m., hidden “likes” and reaction counts, and the removal of cosmetic surgery image filters. Notifications will be blocked by default from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and during school hours. Teens will gain access to a dedicated harmful-content reporting tool with a 90% response rate within half a day. An independent auditor with broad platform access will oversee compliance. Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, called the outcome “social media’s Big Tobacco moment.”