Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to an $18bn settlement with 52 US attorneys general. The agreement addresses claims that Meta designed its products to be addictive to children and misled users about their safety. Meta denies any wrongdoing, and the payment will be spread over a decade, with some of it contingent on other big tech firms contributing.
As part of the settlement, significant changes will be implemented for under-18s in the US. These include a default two-hour daily limit on Facebook and Instagram, with access blocked overnight, unless a parent adjusts the settings. Notifications will also be muted during school hours.
The settlement follows a previous court case in New Mexico where Meta was ordered to pay $942m and overhaul child protections, a decision the company is appealing. While this week's settlement does not involve an admission of liability, it represents a shift in strategy for Meta amid ongoing social media addiction claims in US courts.