Meta has reached a $17 billion settlement with California and more than two dozen other states, addressing allegations that the company intentionally hooked children on its platforms and misled users about potential harms. The agreement, which includes bipartisan support, extends to at least 47 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
Under the terms of the settlement, minors will have their daily access to Meta's platforms, Facebook and Instagram, limited to two hours. They will also be blocked from using the platforms overnight unless a parent overrides the restriction. Meta will be required to implement an independent auditor to ensure compliance with the settlement terms.
Despite the agreement being called "momentous" by whistleblower Bejar, he expressed reservations, arguing that the attorneys general granted Meta too much discretion. Bejar stated that Meta gets to define "harm" and implement changes based on its existing practices, representing a "missed opportunity" to force more measurable outcomes.
Bejar's two-day testimony focused on specific algorithmic design choices that contribute to child addiction on Facebook and Instagram. While the settlement addresses some of these features, such as concealing "likes" and reactions on minors' posts, banning "beauty filters," and offering minors the option to deactivate personalized algorithmic feeds, Bejar believes these measures do not go far enough.
A spokesperson for New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, a key figure in the trial team, described the settlement as a "major step forward" but indicated that efforts to ensure child safety on these platforms will continue.