Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced the $17.1 billion settlement, which also requires Meta to make significant changes to how young people use its platforms.
Oklahoma to receive millions
Oklahoma will receive a guaranteed $235,578,728 under the agreement. That amount could increase to $334,107,696 if other major technology companies, including Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok, reach similar settlements.
The agreement resolves claims brought by Oklahoma, 46 other states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Drummond filed Oklahoma’s lawsuit against Meta in October 2023.
“This settlement is a monumental victory for the protection of our children, and it will fundamentally transform how the social media industry designs platforms for kids and teens,” Drummond said.
Lawsuit alleged social media was designed to be addictive
The lawsuit alleged Meta knowingly exposed children and teenagers to mental health risks and designed its platforms with features intended to keep young users engaged.
It also accused the company of misleading the public about the safety of its platforms.
Ronnie Irons, a father of three girls ranging in age from 8 to 20, said he has watched his children spend more time on their phones over the years.
“They mean everything to me,” Irons said.
He said there are times when his children become so focused on their phones that it is difficult to get them to step away.
“My kids, they like zombies. You know, they just stare at their phone all day. You can’t get them to do nothing,” Irons said.
New limits for young users
Under the settlement, Meta must implement a number of new safety measures for children and teens on Facebook and Instagram.
The changes include a two-hour daily limit on Meta’s social media platforms for five years.
The agreement also requires:
- Mandatory breaks after 15 minutes of continuous use and again at 60 and 90 minutes.
- Restrictions on access between midnight and 6 a.m.
- Push notifications to be restricted from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- School mode that restricts access during school hours.
- No weekday push notifications from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the school year.
- Stronger age-verification measures.
- A prohibition on accounts for children under 13.
- Stronger protections against bullying, eating disorder content, suicide and self-harm content.
- Stronger and easier-to-use parental controls.
The settlement also prohibits certain social comparison features, including cosmetic procedure filters and visible like or reaction counts.
Parents say responsibility should not fall entirely on them
For parents like State Representative Ellen Pogemiller, the changes could provide another layer of protection.
“I think when a business, a corporation knows they’re doing harm, then absolutely, the change is on them to make, not on parents that they’re causing the harm,” Pogemiller said. “It’s not our harm to change. So we’re asking them to make the changes.”
Pogemiller, who said she limits her own child’s social media use, called the settlement a win for parents.
She also said Oklahoma should use the settlement money to invest in programs that benefit young people.
“I hope that as a state over the next 10 years, we are working on programs that are directed towards youth, and improving outcomes, regardless if it has to do with social media or not,” Pogemiller said.
More platforms could face pressure
Drummond said the settlement is an important step toward broader changes across the social media industry.
He said harmful online features extend beyond a single company and encouraged other platforms, including TikTok, to adopt similar protections for children and teens.
“This settlement represents a down payment toward an industry-wide social media experience that allows kids to connect in a healthy way,” Drummond said.
The new safety measures will be evaluated by an independent auditor and the states involved in the settlement.
