Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to pay $16.7 billion as part of a settlement to end a landmark case brought by state attorneys general accusing the tech company of endangering children and youth.
In addition to the payment, Meta has agreed to implement safety features for its social media platforms, including daily usage limits and “nighttime blocks” for teenagers.
The company also agreed to eliminate push notifications during weekday school hours and implement “age-assurance measures” and “age-appropriate” content controls to prevent children from accessing harmful materials.
Social media platforms will also be required to add parental control tools and limits on social comparison features.
The Landmark Case Against Meta's "Harmful" Platforms
In 2023, 33 states, including Georgia, New York, and Pennsylvania, sued Meta, accusing the company of harming the youth population and contributing to the youth mental crisis.
According to court documents, the states alleged that “Meta designed and deployed harmful and psychologically manipulative product features to induce young users’ compulsive and extended platform use, while falsely assuring the public that its features were safe and suitable for young users.”
The states filed the suit in response to a 2021 investigation led by a coalition of attorneys general, including Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, and California, after a Wall Street Journal report indicated that Meta knew about the harmful contributions its platforms had on teenagers.
FL AG Uthmeier Vows To Hold Meta Accountable
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier reacted to the settlement, vowing to hold the tech giant accountable in the Sunshine State.
“We rejected Meta’s weak payoff attempt,” Uthmeier wrote on X. “Meta knows about the damage they caused, and we will hold them accountable in Florida.”
In mid-June 2026, AG Uthmeier filed a suit against TikTok, accusing the social media giant of violating the state’s social media limits on minors.
