Meta’s $18B Settlement In Teen Social Media Addiction Trial

The landmark settlement also involves adding stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms.

On Wednesday, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion in a trial over teen social media addiction.

The settlement resolved a pivotal case years in the making that sought to hold the tech giant accountable for the role its platforms played in undermining children’s mental health.

The settlement will be paid out over 10 years with several states collecting hundreds of millions of dollars over the decade. The landmark settlement also involves adding stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms.

If approved by the court, the deal will stop an avalanche of litigation by states against Meta, although the company still faces lawsuits from individuals and school districts throughout the U.S.

For the states, the settlement delivers money for mental-health programs for kids, including after-school or summer activities and digital literacy counselors.