Meta has agreed to pay as much as $17 billion and overhaul how its platforms operate for teenagers, bringing an end to a sweeping legal battle over social media addiction just as the case was heading to trial in an Oakland federal courtroom.
California stands to collect up to $2.1 billion from the deal, pending a judge’s approval, Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office announced. The settlement calls for Meta to pay more than $12 billion upfront, with the total climbing toward $17 billion over the next decade if other social media companies reach similar agreements in related lawsuits, according to the New York Times.
The settlement resolves claims brought by a coalition of 47 states, spearheaded by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey. Those officials accused Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, of deliberately designing its platforms to hook young users — and of pressing forward even as internal research revealed the toll on children’s mental health. Legal observers have likened the case to the landmark battles against the tobacco industry decades ago, and it was widely seen as a bellwether for similar lawsuits piling up against tech giants nationwide.
“Today, we have secured a settlement with Meta that will make social media less dangerous for our kids and make a world of a difference for children and their families,” Bonta said in a statement. A Meta spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The agreement comes just days after opening statements began in the Oakland trial, which had been expected to stretch on for weeks. The case was one of several bellwether trials examining whether major tech firms knowingly marketed addictive products to minors despite the psychological damage they caused.
Meta has already faced costly defeats on similar grounds. Earlier this year, a Los Angeles jury found both Meta and Google liable in a related case, and Meta lost another lawsuit in New Mexico. Still, Tuesday’s settlement dwarfs any previous outcome in this wave of litigation.
Attorneys Lexi Hazam and Previn Warren, who have represented families and school districts suing tech companies, called the settlement “a major step toward holding Meta accountable for the harm its platforms have caused young people.” They noted that legal fights continue against other major platforms, including Google, Snap and TikTok. “We will not rest until every one of these plaintiffs sees justice for the harms caused by all of the defendants’ platforms,” they said.
Beyond the financial payout, the settlement — which still requires court approval — obligates Meta to make substantial changes to how its apps function for younger users. Among the commitments: a two-hour daily time limit for users under 18, which would drop to one hour if other platforms adopt similar caps; the removal of visible likes and reactions for minors; a halt to notifications sent to teens overnight or during school hours; a new system allowing teens to flag harmful content; and a pledge to respond to 90% of such reports within six hours.
Meta has also agreed to a broader review of its safety measures for teenage users.
“Meta has agreed to make massive transformations that will reduce the risk of harm from its platforms — and will do it within months,” Bonta said. “We are talking about time limits, stopping notifications during school, a block on the app during critical overnight hours, bans on plastic surgery filters, and so much more.”
Part of the settlement funds will go toward addressing the mental health effects of social media on children, while California lawmakers and the governor will determine how to allocate the state’s remaining share.
The settlement adds to a broader push in California to regulate how young people engage with social media. State lawmakers have already passed several bills addressing similar concerns, including restrictions on notifications during school hours — measures that mirror some of the design changes now required under the Meta agreement.
Original source: CalMatters
