NEW YORK (Gray Media) – In what could mark a watershed moment for online child safety, tech giant Meta has agreed to a historic settlement with 52 attorneys general spanning the country, committing to massive financial payouts and sweeping platform reforms.
The proposed agreement will see Meta pay more than $18 billion to U.S. states and territories over the next decade.
In addition to the multi-billion-dollar payout, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram has committed to major operational changes to protect teen users on its platforms. Under the terms of the settlement, Meta is introducing multiple new safety features. These reforms include implementing mandatory daily screen time limits that users cannot turn off, establishing built-in blocks to prevent overnight app usage, muting notifications during regular school hours, and expanding oversight tools for parents and guardians.
The landmark proposal follows a trial that began last week in Northern California. Dozens of states argued in court that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to be addictive to children which it hid from the public, collected data on children under the age of 13, and violated consumer protection laws. Meta has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
The payouts from the settlement are expected to be directed toward youth health and safety initiatives. However, Meta has stated it plans to withhold a portion of the total payout until competitors YouTube and TikTok adopt similar online safety reforms.
The proposed settlement still awaits final approval from a federal judge in California.
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