Meta Agrees to Settle US Teen Social Media Claims
State attorneys general announced Wednesday that Meta agreed to a settlement. The deal covers 47 states, the District of Columbia and US territories.
The claims involve teen social media addiction and child safety. A court must still approve the agreement.
Meta could pay up to $17.1 billion over 10 years. Other reports give different amounts for the settlement.
One report says Meta will pay $16.7 billion. That number comes from a lawsuit filed by 29 states.
Another report says the amount is nearly $18 billion. That figure relates to a lawsuit from California and other states.
Meta agreed to make major changes to its products. It will add stronger safety measures for Facebook and Instagram.
The settlement also covers claims about sharing user data with others. Attorneys general said Meta designed its platforms to addict teens.
They said Meta hid mental health risks from the public. The investigation into Meta began in 2021.
Key Terms 3
- attorneys general Top legal officers who represent US states in court.
- District of Columbia The area containing Washington, the US capital.
- settlement An agreement to end a legal case without a full trial.