Meta Settles Child Safety Lawsuit With 29 States

Meta has reached a settlement with 29 states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to hook children, misled users about safety risks, and improperly harvested children's personal data without parental consent, Reuters is reporting. The agreement was struck during a federal trial in California and resolves claims tied to alleged violations of consumer protection laws and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Meta denied the allegations even as it agreed to the settlement, a pattern critics say lets Silicon Valley giants avoid full accountability while quietly writing checks. The case is the latest in a string of legal battles over Big Tech's handling of young users, as lawmakers on both sides increasingly scrutinize how platforms target and monetize children online. Further details on settlement terms were not immediately disclosed.