Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion and introduce major restrictions for younger Facebook and Instagram users under a landmark legal settlement.
Date: August 27, 2026
The agreement resolves claims brought by nearly all U.S. states alleging that Meta designed its platforms to addict children, misled the public about youth safety and improperly collected information from underage users.
Approximately $12.7 billion of the settlement is guaranteed. Another $5 billion is conditional upon competing platforms—including TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat—adopting similar protections.
Under the agreement, teenage users will generally be limited to two hours of Facebook and Instagram usage each day. Access will also be restricted between midnight and 6 a.m. unless a parent provides permission.
Meta will disable most push notifications for teenagers during school hours and strengthen measures intended to prevent children from accessing age-restricted material.
The settlement does not force Meta to eliminate personalized recommendations or targeted advertising. Meta continues to deny wrongdoing while saying it is committed to improving the online experience for teenagers and parents.
Source: Reuters
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