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NewsWSVN 7 MiamiAugust 26, 2026Miami-Dade

Meta agrees to $18 billion settlement and new child-safety features on Facebook and Instagram

Meta has reached a settlement with 48 states to pay up to $18 billion over 10 years and implement strict child-safety features on its platforms to address teen social media addiction. The agreement requires Meta to introduce daily time limits, disable certain notifications during school hours, and allow independent audits of its safety measures.

social mediamental healthchild safetylegal settlementtechnology regulation
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Why It Matters

This settlement provides states with funding for youth mental health programs and mandates new platform restrictions for minors, though it does not resolve individual lawsuits or cases brought by school districts.

Key Facts

  • Meta will pay up to $18 billion over 10 years to 48 states, Washington D.C., and territories.
  • California will receive at least $1.5 billion of the total settlement.
  • Meta must implement two-hour daily time limits for minors, which require parental permission to disable.
  • Push notifications will be disabled during weekday school hours.
  • Meta will introduce age-assurance measures and content controls to limit exposure to bullying, eating disorders, and self-harm.
  • An independent auditor will monitor Meta's compliance with the new safety features.
  • Approximately $5.3 billion of the settlement is conditional on competitors YouTube and TikTok adopting similar safety measures.
  • Florida and New Mexico are the only states not participating in this settlement.
  • The settlement does not resolve individual lawsuits or claims filed by school districts.
  • Meta's 2025 revenue was reported as $201 billion.

Who's Mentioned

organizationMeta“The tech company settling the lawsuit.”locationCalifornia“State receiving the largest settlement share.”organizationYouTube“Competitor platform.”organizationTikTok“Competitor platform.”personMark Zuckerberg“CEO of Meta.”personVictoria Hinks“Parent advocate.”personJames Uthmeier“Florida Attorney General.”personRob Bonta“California Attorney General.”personSacha Haworth“Executive Director of The Tech Oversight Project.”personJay Jones“Virginia Attorney General.”