(The Center Square) – Child-safety measures for children and $246.9 million from a $17.1 billion settlement are coming to South Carolina from Meta, owner of the Facebook and Instagram platforms.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg was spared a spot on the stand to tell jurors his side in a California federal court. Thirty-two states sued in October 2023. All totaled since, various claims are resolved for 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
“As a dad to two teenagers who’ve grown up in the digital age, protecting children from Big Tech is personal to me,” fourth term state Attorney General Wilson said. “This settlement doesn’t undo the damage that has been caused, but it’s a strong step in preventing the harms caused by social media to future generations of young people.”
The settlement is the one of the largest for consumer protection in state history. For Meta, the total amount is 8.5% of its $201 billion in 2025 revenue.
Pending federal court approval of the settlement, Meta will have to determine if users are ages 13-17. Then, the protections include a daily time limit; nighttime block; no school hour notifications; scrolling pauses; and no more counts for likes and reactions.
“I appreciate Meta’s recognition of the harms caused by their platform design and working with attorneys general across the country to reach this historic settlement,” Wilson said. “Advancements in technology, like social media, connect the world but also come with huge responsibility, and the changes Meta has agreed to make to their platform reflect that.”
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