Meta to pay $17 billion in landmark teen safety settlement

Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and implement a series of child-safety measures on its Facebook and Instagram platforms, settling a landmark lawsuit brought by 47 states over teen social media addiction. The deal, announced Wednesday by state attorneys general, brings an abrupt end to a trial that had been underway in federal court in Oakland, California.

The settlement resolves claims from 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023, with additional lawsuits from other states and nine attorneys general also folded into the agreement. Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones called the deal one of the largest in state consumer protection history, with Virginia alone receiving $353 million.

"For years, Meta intentionally deceived the public about the addictive and harmful design features that have wreaked havoc on youth mental health," Jones said in a statement. "This settlement will put an end to these dangerous practices and deliver meaningful relief that will protect children from online harm."

Under the proposed terms, Meta will introduce a "hard cap" on daily time limits for minors and pause notifications during weekday school hours. The company will also implement stronger age assurance measures, more robust parental controls, and limits on social comparison features like "like" counts. Content controls will be tightened to prevent exposure to material about eating disorders, self-harm, and bullying.

The lawsuit accused Meta of deliberately designing addictive features while concealing their impact on young users. It also alleged the company collected data on children under 13 without parental consent, in violation of federal law. The trial, overseen by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, had been expected to feature testimony from CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri began testimony late Tuesday, defending the company's record on child safety. Former Meta engineering director Arturo Béjar testified last week that the company consistently prioritized profits over user well-being. "If you step away from the product, they are not going to make any money," he said.

The case stemmed from investigations by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, following 2021 reports that Meta was aware of the harm Instagram could cause teenagers, particularly girls, regarding mental health and body image. While Meta has added safety features in recent years, critics and former employees have argued these measures are insufficient.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The $17 billion settlement represents a small fraction of the company's $201 billion in 2025 revenue. The states had not specified a damages figure, though Meta had suggested in court filings that penalties could reach $1.4 trillion — a sum legal experts considered unrealistic.