Meta, the Instagram parent company, has reached a settlement with multiple US states and various state attorneys general. The agreement, reported by US media based on court documents, resolves accusations that Meta designed its social media platforms in a highly addictive manner, thereby endangering young people. The states alleged that the corporation had misled users about the safety of its platforms, claims which Meta has previously denied.
Initially, the states demanded $1.4 trillion in damages, along with structural changes to the company’s platforms. However, the corporation now faces a potential payment of up to $18 billion. Crucially, $5.3 billion of this amount is contingent on competing platforms, YouTube and TikTok, adopting similar policies, including implementing a one-hour daily usage limit, a nighttime mode, and enhanced age verification, alongside a joint contribution of $5.3 billion.
In a subsequent blog post, Meta announced that they have agreed with 52 state and district attorneys general to implement stricter protective measures for youth. These agreed changes include limiting daily usage on Facebook and Instagram to a maximum of two hours, establishing a night lock from 12 am to 6 am, turning off notifications during school hours, and providing greater oversight of algorithmic feeds, autoplay, and likes. Furthermore, the platforms will restrict contact with suspicious adults and improve age verification and reporting systems. Parents will also gain access to extended control and notification features.
