A landmark legal battle over the safety of children on social media has ended with Meta agreeing to an 18-billion-dollar settlement with several U.S. states.
The social media giant had been accused of deliberately designing addictive platforms that harmed the mental health of young users. Under the agreement, Meta will introduce changes to its platforms, including daily time limits for teenage users.
More than 17 billion dollars of the settlement will resolve a lawsuit filed by 29 states in 2023, while the remaining funds will settle claims from other states and territories. The money will support youth online safety initiatives.
The settlement was approved by U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, shortly after the trial began in California.
Meta has denied that its platforms harm children, saying it has invested heavily in safety measures. The company did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said the deal was accepted because it would deliver safety changes more quickly, avoiding potentially years of further litigation.
