Meta to Pay $16.68B Settlement Over Child Safety Claims

Meta has agreed to pay a massive $16.68 billion settlement following claims from 29 U.S. states that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to addict children, according to Disclose.tv. The states alleged Meta misled consumers about the platforms' safety and improperly harvested children's personal data. As part of the settlement, Meta will implement daily usage limits and nighttime blocks for teenage users. The tech giant denies any wrongdoing despite agreeing to the massive payout. The case adds to mounting scrutiny of Big Tech's handling of young users, as lawmakers and parents nationwide have raised alarms over social media's effects on children's mental health and safety. Further details on implementation timelines were not immediately available.