In August 2026, Meta agreed to one of the largest consumer protection settlements in American history. The settlement resolves claims from 47 states alleging that Meta intentionally designed its Facebook and Instagram platforms to be addictive to young users and harmful to youth mental health.
As part of the settlement, Meta agreed to pay up to US$17.1 billion – approximately 20% of Meta’s 2025 pretax profits – in penalties over the next 10 years. Meta also agreed to implement changes to its platforms for young users, including daily time limits, access restrictions during school hours and late nights, and “productivity breaks” that interrupt scrolling every 60 minutes.
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