Meta Settles Teen Social Media Addiction Lawsuit with $17 Billion Payment and Child Safety
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OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday.
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PBS NewsHourMeta reaches $17 billion settlement with states in landmark trial over teen social media addiction Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday.
The Daily WireThe 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.
BreitbartMark 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.
Washington ExaminerMeta has agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion and make sweeping changes to Facebook and Instagram to settle allegations that it designed its platforms to addict children while misleading the public about their risks.
NPR NewsThe social media company Meta and the states suing it have agreed to a proposed settlement that would resolve a landmark federal child safety lawsuit, according to a statement from California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
NBC NewsIn the case, attorneys general from states including California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey accused Meta of harming children with its social media products, which they argued were designed to be addictive. They also accused Meta of violating federal privacy and consumer protection laws.
ReutersMeta reaches $16.68 billion settlement over social media harms to children - Reuters Meta reaches $16.68 billion settlement over social media harms to children Reuters
ABC NewsA 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.
New York TimesMeta to Pay Up to $17 Billion in Landmark Settlement Over Social Media Addiction Claims The social media giant settled with 47 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, and agreed to make major changes to its products over claims its platforms endangered children.
The HillMeta settles in for $17B in landmark social media case Plus: 🎤Looking back on Dolly Parton’s legacy {beacon}   It’s Wednesday. How many Dolly Parton videos did you watch yesterday? Send us some of your favorites and we’ll share throughout the week.     We’ll get it started with this classic duet with Kenny Rogers.     In today’s issue: Meta pays $17B to settle…
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Meta will also strengthen age-verification systems, increase parental controls, and add protections against content involving bullying, eating disorders, suicide, and self-harm.
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Washington ExaminerOther requirements include stronger age-verification systems, improved parental controls, and enhanced safeguards against bullying and content promoting eating disorders, suicide, or self-harm. Meta must also limit beauty filters, visible “like” counts and other social-comparison features associated with poor mental health outcomes.
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Some legal experts compare this moment to landmark litigation against tobacco companies in the 1990s that forced them into big settlements and changed their behavior — and the public discussion about the risks of cigarettes.
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The settlement also calls for what the filing describes as “additional tools to help parents and guardians to protect their children online.”
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NBC NewsThe settlement also requires the company to create “additional tools to help parents and guardians to protect their children online.”
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The agreement comes one day after Instagram chief Adam Mosseri took the stand in California.
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BreitbartNBC News reports that the settlement, which still needs a judge’s approval, came one day after Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified in a California courtroom. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had also been expected to take the stand before the deal was reached.
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Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 Washington Examiner Attorneys general who sued the Big Tech company celebrated the agreement Wednesday morning, including Democratic District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who called it a “monumental public health victory.”
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02 New York Times What to Know About Social Media Addiction Lawsuits Against Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube Landmark trials are testing a new legal strategy claiming that Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube caused personal injury through addictive products.
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03 NPR News "Meta has agreed to make massive transformations that will reduce the risk of harm from its platforms — and will do it within months," he added.
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04 NBC News Science says it’s possible 03:07 Gen Z sparks comeback for iPhone 5c on social media 05:14 How Black culture is shaping Gen Z slang 04:43
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05 Associated Press California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023, but the deal cuts short the trial, which was expected to see CEO Mark Zuckerberg take the stand before a jury in federal court in California.
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06 Breitbart Meta did not concede wrongdoing. A court filing states the company “denies the allegations against it and that it has any liability to the Plaintiffs.”
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07 The Daily Wire The settlement also means Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will not testify in the federal trial. Zuckerberg had been expected to take the stand as the states presented evidence concerning what Meta executives knew about the effects of its products on children.
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