From CNET: Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta has struck a deal with the 29 US states currently suing the tech giant for intentionally designing its social media platforms to be addictive and harmful to children and teens. Reuters first reported the settlement, saying the company could pay a maximum of $16.68 billion, which is less than 10% of the company’s 2025 annual revenue ($200.97 billion).
This settlement allows CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the company to avoid a high-stakes trial, whose consequences could have remade how the tech industry operates. The proposed agreement will need to be approved by the court, but it brings 52 US attorneys general deal, not just the ones who were apart of the original lawsuit.
Under the new rules, Meta will enforce default daily usage limits, including blocks during school hours and at nighttime. It will also implement more rigorous age verification measures, court filings on Wednesday show.
“Today, we have secured a settlement with Meta that will make social media less dangerous for our kids and make a world of a difference for children and their families,” said California Attorney General Bonta, who helped lead the case, in a statement.
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