Meta to pay $18 billion in settlement with US states over teen addiction claims
Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion over ten years and impose strict limits on teenage usage of Facebook and Instagram as part of a settlement with nearly all US states. The deal resolves a federal trial that accused the company of engineering its platforms to be addictive for minors and deceiving the public about safety. The agreement was announced on Wednesday.
The settlement brings an end to a federal trial in which state attorneys general argued that Meta deliberately engineered its platforms to foster compulsive use among minors while publicly downplaying known risks. Nearly all US states joined the agreement, signaling broad bipartisan concern over youth mental health and platform accountability.
Under the terms, Meta will pay up to $18 billion across a ten-year period and implement stricter usage controls for teenage account holders on both Facebook and Instagram. The announcement follows years of litigation and mounting scrutiny over how social media companies design features that may keep young users engaged for extended periods.
This settlement could reshape how social media companies approach teen safety, potentially setting a precedent for future platform regulation. Parents and educators may gain clearer expectations about usage limits, while Meta faces ongoing pressure to demonstrate genuine reform rather than symbolic compliance. The financial scale may also encourage other tech firms to proactively address similar concerns, though the long-term effect on teen well-being remains uncertain.