Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Meta has agreed to a historic $18 billion settlement to resolve a landmark 2023 lawsuit brought by 29 states, which claimed the company designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive and harmful to the mental health of young users. While Meta did not admit wrongdoing, the tech giant agreed to implement sweeping new safety measures pending judicial approval. These changes for users under 18 include a two-hour daily time limit, a "night mode" blocking app usage between midnight and 6 a.m., a "school mode" that mutes notifications during class hours, the disabling of extreme cosmetic surgery filters, and strengthened parental controls. Under the agreement, Meta will pay 70% of the settlement to the states over the next decade. The remaining 30% will only be paid if major competitors like YouTube and TikTok agree to make similar payments and implement matching safety features.
Meta has agreed to a historic $18 billion settlement to resolve a landmark 2023 lawsuit brought by 29 states, which claimed the company designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive and harmful to the mental health of young users. While Meta did not admit wrongdoing, the tech giant agreed to implement sweeping new safety measures pending judicial approval. These changes for users under 18 include a two-hour daily time limit, a "night mode" blocking app usage between midnight and 6 a.m., a "school mode" that mutes notifications during class hours, the disabling of extreme cosmetic surgery filters, and strengthened parental controls. Under the agreement, Meta will pay 70% of the settlement to the states over the next decade. The remaining 30% will only be paid if major competitors like YouTube and TikTok agree to make similar payments and implement matching safety features.
