PHILADELPHIA (AP/ KYW Newsradio) — Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, state attorneys general announced on Wednesday.
California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023, but the deal cuts short the trial, which was expected to see CEO Mark Zuckerberg take the stand before a jury in federal court in California.
New Jersey was one of the states that led the lawsuit, taking Meta to federal court in California over claims that the company knowingly misrepresented and downplayed the risks and dangers children face from social media usage.
The settlement includes $525 million for the Garden State.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said Meta has agreed to their demands, including “stronger safety features, ongoing oversight [and] accountability.” Those changes include:
- A ban on displaying likes or reactions.
- A ban on cosmetic filters.
- A daily two-hour limit (combined for Instagram and Facebook) for users under 18 that can be lifted only by a parent.
- Default blocks on notifications between midnight and 6 a.m., when kids should be sleeping.
- Limited school‑time access and limited push notifications during school hours.
- Better procedures to verify users’ ages.
- Safeguards against bullying, eating disorders, suicide and self-harm content.
- Enhanced parental controls.
Prosecutors argued that these features were designed to addict users to Facebook and Instagram.
🎧 RELATED:
Davenport added in a statement:
As a parent, protecting your kids is always your North Star. And this agreement achieves critical protections for our children today. It would not have been possible without our amazing litigation team, who worked with their counterparts across the country to bring this groundbreaking case.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill added:
Big Tech is finally being held accountable for the harm it is causing, especially to our children’s mental health and safety. More important, parents and teens will finally get some relief, including groundbreaking new safety features to protect kids online. But here in New Jersey, we won’t stop fighting until all of the Big Tech companies follow suit and finally stop the constant assault of addictive algorithms.
A former engineering director at Meta testified last week that the company took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to kids under 13 on its platforms. Meta has denied any wrongdoing or liability.
As part of the settlement, Meta will pay $12 billion up front. The settlement is still subject to court approval.
Meta agrees to add child safety measures to its platforms
Meta agrees to add child safety measures to its platforms
