Meta will pay up to $18 billion to settle a lawsuit filed by 29 U.S. states over allegations that Instagram and Facebook were designed to addict children and collect their data without parental consent. The states accused Meta of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by knowingly gathering data from minors.
The settlement avoids a jury trial, though Meta denies wrongdoing. In a blog post, the company framed the agreement as a push for broader industry standards, urging platforms like YouTube and TikTok to adopt similar protections for teens and parental controls.
Meta emphasized its commitment to teen safety, stating that ensuring a "safe and productive experience" on its platforms is a priority. The settlement reflects growing regulatory scrutiny over social media’s impact on young users.
