Meta books $9.89 billion child-safety charge in Q3
Meta’s third-quarter results included a $9.89 billion charge related to its child safety settlement with US state attorneys general. The company said operating income would have reached $22.89 billion without that cost. Meta also reported $64.60 billion in revenue and faces additional legal exposure after a New Mexico court ordered a $25 billion penalty over the Cambridge Analytica matter.
Meta’s quarterly filing attributes $9.89 billion of costs to its child-safety agreement with state attorneys general. The broader settlement, reached in August, totals $17.1 billion; Meta would pay only $5.3 billion if YouTube and TikTok adopt stricter child safeguards.
Total quarterly costs and expenses were $51.61 billion. Revenue was $64.60 billion, up 26% year over year, and operating income would have been $22.89 billion absent the settlement charge. A New Mexico court also ordered a $25 billion penalty tied to Cambridge Analytica.
The charge may sharpen attention on how social platforms design products for minors and how costly safety disputes can become. Families and young users could see more pressure for default protections and parental tools, while investors may weigh legal reserves against revenue growth. Rivals could face similar scrutiny, and the New Mexico order may extend uncertainty beyond child-safety issues.