Meta has consented to implement significant changes to its social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, as part of a settlement reached with California and 28 other U.S. states. The agreement addresses allegations that the platforms contributed to harmful and addictive behaviors among teenage users.
As part of this settlement, Meta will introduce a series of protective measures aimed at safeguarding teenage users across the nation. These measures include setting daily usage limits, restricting notifications during school hours, and limiting overnight access to its apps. Additionally, the company will impose restrictions on certain filters related to plastic surgery that are targeted at young users.
The financial implications of the settlement could see Meta paying up to $18 billion. This amount would be distributed over a decade among the states involved, pending court approval. California stands to receive between $1.5 billion and $2.1 billion, while Colorado is expected to receive approximately $615 million.
The allegations against Meta include claims that the company intentionally designed features to encourage prolonged use among young users and collected data from children under the age of 13 without adequate parental consent. Despite these accusations, Meta has denied any wrongdoing. The company argues that the settlement would be more impactful if other major social media platforms, such as TikTok, Snap, and YouTube, adopted similar protective measures.
This agreement emerges as Meta, along with other social media companies, faces numerous lawsuits from families, schools, and government officials. These legal actions are centered on the alleged negative impacts of social media on children and teenagers.