Meta struck up to $16.7 billion US teen-safety settlement
What’s new: The deal would add youth limits on scrolling and block changes to some safety settings without parental consent.
Meta Platforms agreed to pay up to $16.7 billion to settle a sweeping lawsuit brought by 29 US states over how Facebook and Instagram affect young users, according to a court filing Wednesday. The proposed accord, which still needs a judge’s approval, landed in the second week of a federal jury trial in Oakland, California. Along with the financial payment, the settlement would force Meta to add new safeguards for minors, including limits on how long youths can scroll and restrictions on turning off certain safety settings unless a parent agrees. The case exposed Meta to huge penalties and possible court-ordered changes to how its platforms operate.