Meta reaches $16.7B US settlement over social media harms to children

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Meta reached a settlement during a California federal trial in a case regarding claims brought by 29 states, averting one of the highest-profile tests yet of allegations that social media companies harmed young users.

Settlement reached during California federal trial over claims from 29 states

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: Aug 26, 2026 9:44 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 minute ago

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Meta Platforms agreed to pay a maximum of $16.68 billion US as part of a settlement to resolve claims brought by states across the United States that the company designed Facebook and Instagram to get children addicted to them, misled consumers about their ‌safety and improperly collected the personal data of children who used its platforms, court papers show.

The settlement was reached during a California federal trial over claims brought by 29 states, averting one of the highest-profile tests yet of allegations that social media companies harmed young users.

Meta also agreed to make changes for teenage users of Facebook and Instagram nationwide, including daily usage limits and nighttime blocks, court papers show.

In agreeing to settle, the California-based company denied wrongdoing.

More to come.

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