Meta Agrees to $18 Billion USD Settlement Over Youth Social Media Addiction Claims

Meta Agrees to $18 Billion USD Settlement Over Youth Social Media Addiction Claims The 10-year agreement with 52 state attorneys general introduces mandatory child-safety reforms on Instagram and Facebook. Summary Meta has reached a landmark 10-year settlement valued at up to $18 billion with 52 state attorneys general The agreement resolves claims alleging Instagram and Facebook feature addictive designs exposing young users to harm Mandatory platform updates include daily two-hour time caps nighttime access blocks and stricter age verification Meta has agreed to an $18 billion USD settlement spanning 10 years to resolve nationwide claims regarding youth social media addiction. The agreement with 52 state attorneys general requires systemic safety reforms across Instagram and Facebook. The litigation alleged that Meta engineered addictive platform features while concealing mental health risks to younger users. Meta will distribute $12.7 billion USD directly to participating states over a decade for youth safety initiatives. The remaining $5.3 billion USD is contingent on competing platforms YouTube and TikTok adopting matching safety terms and equal financial contributions. The mandatory structural updates require Meta to implement a combined two-hour daily time limit across Instagram and Facebook, alongside mandatory continuous scroll pauses, nighttime access blocks from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., and disabled notifications during school hours. The agreement also enforces stricter age verification, limits on beauty filters, and hidden like counts, with compliance reviewed annually by an independent auditor. Subject to final court approval in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Meta expects to accrue a $10 billion USD legal expense in the third quarter of 2026 tied to the agreement.