California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a proposed settlement in the federal child safety lawsuit against Meta. This lawsuit involves multiple U.S. states accusing Meta of creating addictive social media platforms for children and concealing associated risks.
The states involved in the lawsuit include California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, which represent a broader coalition. They claim that Meta’s apps, Facebook and Instagram, target children and violate consumer protection laws, as well as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The act restricts data collection on children under 13, yet allegations suggest Meta collected such data despite its policy to prevent under-13 users.
Meta has denied these claims, and NPR is seeking the company’s response. However, the settlement mandates Meta to pay $17 billion over ten years and implement significant operational changes to safeguard minors.
“Today, we have secured a settlement with Meta that will make social media less dangerous for our kids and make a world of a difference for children and their families,” Bonta stated.
The proposed changes include:
- Default time limit of two hours daily for users under 18.
- Nighttime block from midnight to 6 AM, removable only by parents.
- Default notification blocks during night and school hours.
- Prohibition on displaying “likes” or reactions on minors’ posts.
- Ban on cosmetic surgery filters for minors.
- Option for a “non-personalized feed” for young users.
Moreover, Meta must appoint an independent auditor with comprehensive access and communication rights with the attorneys general. Meta will face an injunction barring false or misleading statements regarding safety features.
Bonta expressed pride in achieving a settlement that promises transparency and protections for children on Meta’s platforms.
The trial began recently in federal court in Oakland and was expected to last until early October. However, the settlement announcement interrupts the trial midway. Testimonies have revealed internal Meta studies showcasing higher-than-publicly-acknowledged harmful experiences for young users.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified about Instagram’s “Take a Break” feature, aimed at deterring excessive use among teens, which reportedly had limited engagement.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California must approve this settlement. The lawsuit echoes previous tobacco litigation, leading to major industry changes and public perception shifts. The settlement accounts for cases and claims from 51 attorney general-led lawsuits.