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The settlement comes during the second week of a federal trial in Oakland, California. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey had been leading the litigation brought by a coalition of 51 attorneys general, with the states alleging that Meta knowingly designed addictive features for young users, concealed information about the risks of its products, and collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. Meta denied the allegations and argued that its platforms already implemented measures to protect young users. As part of the settlement, the company did not admit wrongdoing.

The settlement announced this week with 47 states, the District of Columbia, and three U.S. territories aims to be about more than just Meta. It's structured as an attempt to set industry standards for how platforms treat young users. Meta agreed to pay out an initial $12 billion over 10 years. It will pay another $5 billion if YouTube, TikTok and Snap also reach settlements with the states, pay similar financial penalties and implement similar changes to their platforms, including stricter time limits, age checks, and blocks on nighttime use.

Meta avoided the worst today by settling a massive lawsuit over alleged damages “to the mental and physical wellbeing of America’s youth.” The case, brought by the attorneys general of 47 states, plus U.S. territories and Washington, D.C., had been mid-trial in a federal court in California and was by far the most significant legal challenge the company has ever faced. To resolve the lawsuit, Meta will have to make a slew of design changes to its social-media platforms, and it will pay more than $12 billion—down from the approximately $200 billion that was initially sought, and a fraction of the $60 billion that the company made in profit last year.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has reached an incredible $18 billion settlement with 48 states that accused the tech giant of knowingly causing harm to children — and parents who blame their teens’ suicides on social media are celebrating.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta agreed to pay roughly $18 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by 29 states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram harmed children through addictive design.

Meta reaches $18B deal on kids’ use of Facebook, Instagram: Four takeaways A landmark settlement between Meta and attorneys general across the country will see the technology giant pay more than $18 billion to states, but also roll out several changes to better protect kids and teens on its Facebook and Instagram platforms.   The settlement proposal, which awaits a judge’s approval, will end the high-profile trial in…

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kids under 18 will soon see a host of changes to their Instagram and Facebook experiences thanks to a historic $18 billion settlement Meta Platforms reached Wednesday with 48 U.S. states.

A bipartisan coalition of 51 attorneys general on Wednesday reached a landmark settlement with Meta that will change how young users interact with Instagram and Facebook. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

As part of the deal, “Meta commits to establishing daily limits and blocks on nighttime use for teenage users” as well as “enhanced age assurance measures to prevent children from accessing the platform, or age restricted content available on the platform,” the court filing also says.

Victoria Hicks, mother of Alexandra Hicks, told reporters that she feels 'justice is possible' after Meta settled in its US trial over teen addiction. On 26 August in a Oakland, California, federal courtroom, Meta agreed to establish safeguards for teenagers and pay up to $17bn. Dozens of US states had accused the tech giant of addicting and harming children with dangerous products

After Meta Settlement, Here’s What Is Changing For Teens on Instagram and Facebook Meta agreed to set more time limits and enhance protections in its platforms for young users, but was short on some specifics.

As penance — and even as it denied wrongdoing as part of the settlement — Meta will limit teenagers’ use to two hours a day, cut off usage from midnight to 6 a.m., and disable push notifications during common school hours.