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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 26, 2026Miami-Dade

Meta agrees to $18 billion settlement and new child-safety features on Facebook and Instagram

Meta has reached a settlement with 48 states to pay up to $18 billion over 10 years and implement new safety features for minors, including daily time limits and restricted notifications. The agreement resolves a federal trial regarding the impact of social media platforms on teen mental health and data collection practices.

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Why It Matters

The settlement provides funding for state-level youth mental health programs and mandates platform-wide changes to how children interact with Facebook and Instagram, pending court approval.

Key Facts

  • Meta will pay up to $18 billion over 10 years to 48 states, Washington D.C., and territories.
  • California will receive at least $1.5 billion of the settlement funds.
  • Meta must implement two-hour daily time limits for minors, which require parental permission to disable.
  • Push notifications will be disabled during weekday school hours.
  • Meta will implement age-assurance measures and content controls to prevent bullying and self-harm material.
  • An independent auditor will monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the new safety features.
  • Approximately $5.3 billion of the settlement is contingent on competitors YouTube and TikTok adopting similar safety measures.
  • The settlement excludes New Mexico and Florida.
  • The agreement resolves claims that Meta collected data on children under 13 without parental consent.
  • Meta's 2025 revenue was reported as $201 billion.

Who's Mentioned

organizationMeta“Parent company of Facebook and Instagram”personArturo Béjar“Former Meta engineering director”personMark Zuckerberg“CEO of Meta”personVictoria Hinks“Parent of a deceased teenager”personJames Uthmeier“Florida Attorney General”personRob Bonta“California Attorney General”personJay Jones“Virginia Attorney General”organizationThe Tech Oversight Project“Advocacy group”