Meta pays up to $18 billion, adds teen limits in US case
Why it matters: The 10-year deal forces default time caps, muted notifications and hidden likes for teen users on Facebook and Instagram.
Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion over 10 years to settle a landmark lawsuit by US states and territories over claims that Facebook and Instagram harmed children and misled the public about safety risks. The deal ends a federal trial that lasted five days and was expected to feature testimony from CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Under the settlement, Meta will add default protections for known teen users, including a two-hour daily limit across Facebook and Instagram, overnight notification muting and hidden like counts. Direct messages will not count toward the daily cap. Meta did not admit wrongdoing. The case adds to mounting pressure on social media companies to tighten child-safety rules and could spur demands for similar changes outside the United States.