New Delhi, August 26: Meta has agreed to a landmark settlement worth up to $16.68 billion to resolve claims by US states that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to keep children hooked, misled users about the safety of their platforms and improperly collected personal data from young users, according to a report by India Today.
The agreement, disclosed in court filings, brings an end to a closely watched federal trial involving 29 states. It also prevents the case from becoming one of the biggest courtroom tests of allegations that social media companies have contributed to a youth mental health crisis.
Meta denied wrongdoing while agreeing to the settlement. The company will also introduce nationwide changes for teenage users of Facebook and Instagram, including daily usage limits and overnight restrictions, according to the court papers.
The settlement goes beyond the financial payout and requires Meta to make changes to how teenagers use its platforms. According to the court filings, the measures include daily limits on usage and nighttime blocks aimed at reducing the amount of time young users spend on Facebook and Instagram.
