Meta Platforms agreed to pay at least $16.68 billion to settle claims from 29 US states accusing the company of knowingly designing Facebook and Instagram to addict children and teenagers. The settlement could reach $18 billion depending on the resolution of similar cases involving other companies, making it the largest consumer protection settlement in tech history. Meta must implement new protections for users under 18, including a two-hour daily usage cap, nighttime blocks from midnight to 6 a.m., enhanced age verification, and expanded parental controls. Meta’s stock rose approximately 4% in premarket trading following the announcement. Meta denies any wrongdoing and the settlement remains pending court approval.
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