Meta agrees to $16.7bn settlement in teen social media harm case

Meta Platforms has agreed to pay up to $16.7 billion to settle a lawsuit brought by 29 US states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram harmed teenagers, according to Nairametrics, citing Bloomberg.

The settlement, filed in federal court in Oakland, California on Wednesday, requires Meta to limit young users’ scrolling time, restrict their ability to disable safety settings without parental approval, and strengthen age-verification systems. An independent auditor will monitor compliance.

Meta denied wrongdoing, saying the agreement is not an admission of liability. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the deal would significantly reduce risks posed to young users.