Dorothy

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

Meta 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.

The 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.

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.

In 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.

Meta 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

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

Meta 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.

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.