Along with creating and improving these safety and supervision features, Meta will hire an independent auditor to review accumulated information and resources, and then report to the attorneys general, for the next 5 years.
A Call to YouTube and TikTok
Meta will initially distribute approximately $12.7 billion to the participants in the lawsuit with annual payments over 10 years. The remaining $5.3 billion? It will only be released if YouTube and TikTok follow suit.
Because teens move fluidly across dozens of apps, we need an industry-wide solution. We therefore call on our industry peers, TikTok and YouTube, to implement this new framework right away,” said Mahoney. “But its success depends on all other social media platforms following Meta’s lead.”1
If YouTube and TikTok also impose daily limits of an hour each and similar night mode and age restriction features, in addition to paying approximately $5.3 billion each to the plaintiffs, Meta will pay the remaining approximately $5.3 billion of its own settlement.
This portion of the agreement is designed to drive industry-wide adoption, ensuring teens will receive consistent protections across the apps they use, including YouTube and TikTok.
Continued Oversight and Additional Terms
Meta also intends to share data with an independent social media research foundation to get a better understanding of how it can support young users.
There is also an injunction that will prohibit Meta from making additional false, misleading, or deceptive statements about the safety features in its products.
References
1. Our agreement with bipartisan attorneys general: calling on TikTok and YouTube to join us in supporting teens. Meta. August 26, 2026. Accessed August 28, 2026.
2. Gawel R, Grasso GM. Meta settles for $17 billion over teen social media use, will implement safety features. August 27, 2026. Accessed August 28, 2026.
