Meta has resolved a major child safety lawsuit in the US, including Facebook and Instagram, reaching an $18 billion settlement with 29 American states, with accusations that the platforms could harm children and teenagers. The case was brought by state attorneys general from 29 states, and the legal action related to the development was led by attorneys general from states including California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey. The states accused Meta of designing features that prompt children to scroll through the accounts on the app or website. They claimed that the social media giant Facebook and Instagram used features that were “harmful and psychologically manipulative” and were designed to keep young users spending more time on the platforms. The states additionally accused Meta of failing to adequately safeguard the privacy of minors, arguing the company violated privacy protections owed to children and teenage users across its platforms. A further central claim concerned how Meta reported on user experiences: the states alleged the company published reports that were "profoundly misleading," understating how often users on Instagram and Facebook encountered negative experiences.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/2-3rd-of-glacier-detached-collapsed-isro-satellite-images-reveal-what-triggered-nepal-floods-1787808292941">2/3rd of glacier detached, collapsed: ISRO satellite images reveal what triggered Nepal floods</a><h3>What rules changed for children?</h3>Had the lawsuit proceeded to the maximum possible penalties, Meta could have faced a far steeper financial toll, as much as $1.4 trillion, according to The Wrap. Under the settlement, Meta must now implement new protections for teenage users, including daily time limits on platform use. Per the BBC, the court judgment mandates these restrictions. Meta will also be required to institute nighttime blackout periods restricting teens' access to Facebook and Instagram during certain hours. Notably, the settlement doesn't constitute an admission of guilt; Meta has denied the allegations and did not accept responsibility for the claims as part of the agreement. The case carries broader significance as a marker of mounting pressure on one of the world's largest social media companies over child-safety practices, and may serve as a template for how US states push social platforms toward stronger protections for younger users. The settlement unfolded after years of escalating concerns about children on social media. All the regulators and lawmakers have increasingly emphasised that Facebook and Instagram about enough protection of teenagers from harmful content, excessive screen time and privacy risks.

The US states claimed that the social media giant Facebook and Instagram used features that were “harmful and psychologically manipulative” and were designed to keep young users spending more time on the platforms.

Meta has resolved a major child safety lawsuit in the US, including Facebook and Instagram, reaching an $18 billion settlement with 29 American states, with accusations that the platforms could harm children and teenagers. The case was brought by state attorneys general from 29 states, and the legal action related to the development was led by attorneys general from states including California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey. The states accused Meta of designing features that prompt children to scroll through the accounts on the app or website. They claimed that the social media giant Facebook and Instagram used features that were “harmful and psychologically manipulative” and were designed to keep young users spending more time on the platforms. The states additionally accused Meta of failing to adequately safeguard the privacy of minors, arguing the company violated privacy protections owed to children and teenage users across its platforms. A further central claim concerned how Meta reported on user experiences: the states alleged the company published reports that were "profoundly misleading," understating how often users on Instagram and Facebook encountered negative experiences. Also read: 2/3rd of glacier detached, collapsed: ISRO satellite images reveal what triggered Nepal floods What rules changed for children? Had the lawsuit proceeded to the maximum possible penalties, Meta could have faced a far steeper financial toll, as much as $1.4 trillion, according to The Wrap. Under the settlement, Meta must now implement new protections for teenage users, including daily time limits on platform use. Per the BBC, the court judgment mandates these restrictions. Meta will also be required to institute nighttime blackout periods restricting teens' access to Facebook and Instagram during certain hours. Notably, the settlement doesn't constitute an admission of guilt; Meta has denied the allegations and did not accept responsibility for the claims as part of the agreement. The case carries broader significance as a marker of mounting pressure on one of the world's largest social media companies over child-safety practices, and may serve as a template for how US states push social platforms toward stronger protections for younger users. The settlement unfolded after years of escalating concerns about children on social media. All the regulators and lawmakers have increasingly emphasised that Facebook and Instagram about enough protection of teenagers from harmful content, excessive screen time and privacy risks.

The US states claimed that the social media giant Facebook and Instagram used features that were “harmful and psychologically manipulative” and were designed to keep young users spending more time on the platforms.

Meta reaches $18 bn settlement over child safety claims on Facebook, Instagram: Check new rules for teens

Adam Mosseri, the Meta executive who oversees Instagram, acknowledged in a California court on Tuesday (Aug 25) that the company promoted new safety tools for teenagers without disclosing how few users had adopted them during early testing.The admission came in a major trial in which 29 US states have accused Meta of deliberately designing its platforms to keep children engaged while collecting their data and misleading the public about the risks. The trial, which entered its second week this week, is expected to continue through September.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/55-000-per-child-singapore-s-desperate-bid-to-persuade-people-to-have-babies-details-inside-1787640751465">$55,000 per child: Singapore's desperate bid to persuade people to have babies. Details inside</a><h2>Instagram's safety tools had low adoption</h2>State lawyers questioned Mosseri over two Instagram features designed to help teenagers manage their time on the platform: Take a Break, introduced in 2021, and Quiet Mode, launched in 2023.Internal Meta documents presented in court showed that Take a Break had an adoption rate of just 1.8 per cent, while Quiet Mode stood at 8.7 per cent.Mosseri acknowledged that the company did not publicly disclose the overall low adoption rate, which was reportedly as low as 1 to 2 per cent of accounts during the early period.He said the situation later changed after similar protections were incorporated into Teen Accounts, which Meta introduced in 2024 and which include parental controls. "This is one feature with a disappointingly low usage rate, which since this time has significantly improved," Mosseri said.<h2>Mosseri's 90 per cent claim questioned</h2>The testimony also focused on a Meta blog post written by Mosseri and published on December 7, 2021, one day before he appeared before Congress to discuss social media's impact on young people.The post said: "Early test results show that once teens set the reminders, more than 90% of them keep them on."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-gives-trump-temporary-win-on-mail-in-voting-restrictions-1787620685760">US Supreme Court gives Trump temporary win on mail-in voting restrictions</a>Under questioning, Mosseri acknowledged that the 90 per cent figure referred only to users who had already activated the feature and continued using it. It did not indicate that 90 per cent of teenagers had adopted the tool.Mosseri could not recall whether Meta had ever disclosed the percentage of teen accounts with parental controls activated.Notably, Meta's advertising-driven business model benefits when users spend more time on its platforms.<h2>Former employees say tools were ineffective</h2>Other witnesses have also questioned whether the safety features worked as intended. Former Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar testified that Take a Break was, in his experience, "a feature that's designed to fail."George Volichenko, a former Instagram data scientist, described adoption as "very low and disappointing" and "a drop in the ocean".He told the court that Meta leadership did not approve making Quiet Mode the default for younger teenagers. He said this limited usage because the feature was difficult to find and that automatically enabling it could have had a "notable negative impact" on user engagement.Francesco Fogu, Meta's director of product design at Instagram, also testified that adoption would be lower when such features were not activated by default.<h2>Stakes could reach $200 billion</h2>The case could have major consequences for Meta. If the states prevail, they are seeking around $200 billion in penalties. A verdict against Meta could also force significant changes to how the company designs and operates its products.Mosseri is expected to continue testifying on Wednesday. Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is also expected to take the stand, although the timing of his testimony has not been disclosed.

Instagram promoted tools designed to help teenagers spend less time on the platform, but how many actually used them? Meta executive Adam Mosseri faced that question in court as states accused the company of misleading the public about its approach to teen safety.

Adam Mosseri, the Meta executive who oversees Instagram, acknowledged in a California court on Tuesday (Aug 25) that the company promoted new safety tools for teenagers without disclosing how few users had adopted them during early testing. The admission came in a major trial in which 29 US states have accused Meta of deliberately designing its platforms to keep children engaged while collecting their data and misleading the public about the risks. The trial, which entered its second week this week, is expected to continue through September. Also read | $55,000 per child: Singapore's desperate bid to persuade people to have babies. Details inside Instagram's safety tools had low adoption State lawyers questioned Mosseri over two Instagram features designed to help teenagers manage their time on the platform: Take a Break, introduced in 2021, and Quiet Mode, launched in 2023. Internal Meta documents presented in court showed that Take a Break had an adoption rate of just 1.8 per cent, while Quiet Mode stood at 8.7 per cent. Mosseri acknowledged that the company did not publicly disclose the overall low adoption rate, which was reportedly as low as 1 to 2 per cent of accounts during the early period. He said the situation later changed after similar protections were incorporated into Teen Accounts, which Meta introduced in 2024 and which include parental controls. "This is one feature with a disappointingly low usage rate, which since this time has significantly improved," Mosseri said. Mosseri's 90 per cent claim questioned The testimony also focused on a Meta blog post written by Mosseri and published on December 7, 2021, one day before he appeared before Congress to discuss social media's impact on young people. The post said: "Early test results show that once teens set the reminders, more than 90% of them keep them on." Also read | US Supreme Court gives Trump temporary win on mail-in voting restrictions Under questioning, Mosseri acknowledged that the 90 per cent figure referred only to users who had already activated the feature and continued using it. It did not indicate that 90 per cent of teenagers had adopted the tool. Mosseri could not recall whether Meta had ever disclosed the percentage of teen accounts with parental controls activated. Notably, Meta's advertising-driven business model benefits when users spend more time on its platforms. Former employees say tools were ineffective Other witnesses have also questioned whether the safety features worked as intended. Former Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar testified that Take a Break was, in his experience, "a feature that's designed to fail." George Volichenko, a former Instagram data scientist, described adoption as "very low and disappointing" and "a drop in the ocean". He told the court that Meta leadership did not approve making Quiet Mode the default for younger teenagers. He said this limited usage because the feature was difficult to find and that automatically enabling it could have had a "notable negative impact" on user engagement. Francesco Fogu, Meta's director of product design at Instagram, also testified that adoption would be lower when such features were not activated by default. Stakes could reach $200 billion The case could have major consequences for Meta. If the states prevail, they are seeking around $200 billion in penalties. A verdict against Meta could also force significant changes to how the company designs and operates its products. Mosseri is expected to continue testifying on Wednesday. Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is also expected to take the stand, although the timing of his testimony has not been disclosed.

Instagram promoted tools designed to help teenagers spend less time on the platform, but how many actually used them? Meta executive Adam Mosseri faced that question in court as states accused the company of misleading the public about its approach to teen safety.

Instagram chief admits promoting teen safety tool while hiding its low adoption

Meta is facing one of its biggest legal challenges yet as a coalition of 29 US states accuses the technology giant of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram to keep children hooked, while downplaying the risks associated with its platforms. The closely watched trial began in a federal court in Oakland, California, on Tuesday (Aug 18). Four states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, are leading the case, alleging that Meta’s products contributed to anxiety, depression and other mental health problems among young users.The states also accuse Meta of violating federal law by collecting and using children’s personal information improperly.Opening the case for California, deputy attorney general Megan O’Neill alleged that Meta’s business model was to “hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth from the public.”“It worked especially well for kids,” O’Neill told the eight-member jury.Meta rejected the allegations. The company’s lawyer, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some young people struggle with social media but argued that research does not establish a clear connection between adolescent social media use and poor wellbeing.“They don’t believe they’re going to do well if people don’t like their service,” Schmidt said, referring to Meta’s leadership.The case could have significant consequences for Facebook and Instagram. US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will ultimately decide Meta’s liability, while jurors are expected to issue an advisory verdict.If Meta is found liable, the judge could impose civil penalties and order changes to the platforms. The states have proposed measures including removing likes and infinite scrolling, introducing time limits for younger users and strengthening restrictions on children under 13.Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar, who has previously criticised the company’s child-safety measures, was the first witness called by the states.The trial is expected to last six weeks, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri among those expected to testify. &nbsp;

Meta faces a landmark US trial as 29 states accuse Facebook and Instagram of deliberately ‘hooking’ children, harming their wellbeing and exploiting their data for profit.

Meta is facing one of its biggest legal challenges yet as a coalition of 29 US states accuses the technology giant of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram to keep children hooked, while downplaying the risks associated with its platforms. The closely watched trial began in a federal court in Oakland, California, on Tuesday (Aug 18). Four states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, are leading the case, alleging that Meta’s products contributed to anxiety, depression and other mental health problems among young users. The states also accuse Meta of violating federal law by collecting and using children’s personal information improperly. Opening the case for California, deputy attorney general Megan O’Neill alleged that Meta’s business model was to “hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth from the public.” “It worked especially well for kids,” O’Neill told the eight-member jury. Meta rejected the allegations. The company’s lawyer, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some young people struggle with social media but argued that research does not establish a clear connection between adolescent social media use and poor wellbeing. “They don’t believe they’re going to do well if people don’t like their service,” Schmidt said, referring to Meta’s leadership. The case could have significant consequences for Facebook and Instagram. US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will ultimately decide Meta’s liability, while jurors are expected to issue an advisory verdict. If Meta is found liable, the judge could impose civil penalties and order changes to the platforms. The states have proposed measures including removing likes and infinite scrolling, introducing time limits for younger users and strengthening restrictions on children under 13. Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar, who has previously criticised the company’s child-safety measures, was the first witness called by the states. The trial is expected to last six weeks, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri among those expected to testify.

Meta faces a landmark US trial as 29 states accuse Facebook and Instagram of deliberately ‘hooking’ children, harming their wellbeing and exploiting their data for profit.

Did Meta ‘hook’ children to Facebook, Instagram for profit? 29 US states take tech giant to trial

In a landmark ruling that could redefine the legal liability of social media giants, a New Mexico jury has ordered Meta Platforms to pay $375 million in civil penalties. On Tuesday (Mar 24), after a six-week trial, the jury found that the tech titan violated state consumer protection laws by misleading parents about the safety of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The verdict marks the first time a jury has held Meta accountable for claims that its platforms enabled child sexual exploitation and prioritised engagement over teen mental health. While Meta has vowed to appeal, the decision signals a major defeat for the company’s long-standing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act defence. It sets a high-stakes precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits pending across the United States.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-dog-left-behind-7-stolen-pets-trek-17km-in-homeward-bound-escape-from-china-s-meat-market-their-story-is-breaking-the-internet-watch-video-1774330849117">No dog left behind: Tiny Corgi leads pack of 7 stolen dogs on miraculous 17km journey home — their story is breaking the internet | Watch video</a><h2>'Profits Over Kids'</h2>A New Mexico jury has ruled that Meta engaged in unfair and deceptive practices and ordered the company to pay $375 million in civil penalties. The case, brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, accused Meta of misleading users about the safety of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, while allowing child sexual exploitation to persist on its platforms."This is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety." Torrez said, calling the ruling "a ​clear message to big tech executives that no company is beyond the reach of the law". The jury found 75,000 violations of the state’s consumer protection law, awarding $5,000 for each.<h2>What the case revealed</h2>At the heart of the lawsuit was an undercover operation carried out by the attorney general’s office in 2023. Investigators created accounts posing as users under the age of 14. According to the state, those accounts were quickly exposed to explicit material and contacted by adults seeking similar content, leading to multiple criminal cases.Prosecutors argued that Meta was aware of these risks but failed to act. They pointed to internal documents that, they said, acknowledged problems around sexual exploitation and mental health harm among young users. However, despite that the company, the state says, did not institute basic safety tools such as age verification and insisted its platforms were safe.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-patriot-missiles-down-3-american-f-15-jets-over-kuwait-trump-accidentally-reveals-little-mishap-1774396550862">Did Patriot missiles down 3 American F-15 jets over Kuwait? Trump accidentally reveals 'little mishap'</a>The state also accused the company of designing features such as infinite scroll and auto-play to foster addictive behaviour and keep users, especially minors, engaged despite potential harm.<h2>Meta pushes back</h2>Meta has denied the allegations and said it will appeal the verdict. "We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal," a company spokesperson said, adding that Meta has invested heavily in safety tools and continues to work to remove harmful content. "We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content."

Meta hit with a $375M verdict in a landmark case over child safety on its platforms. A US jury says the company misled parents and enabled harm, shaking its legal shield. What this means for Big Tech? Scroll down to read.

In a landmark ruling that could redefine the legal liability of social media giants, a New Mexico jury has ordered Meta Platforms to pay $375 million in civil penalties. On Tuesday (Mar 24), after a six-week trial, the jury found that the tech titan violated state consumer protection laws by misleading parents about the safety of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The verdict marks the first time a jury has held Meta accountable for claims that its platforms enabled child sexual exploitation and prioritised engagement over teen mental health. While Meta has vowed to appeal, the decision signals a major defeat for the company’s long-standing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act defence. It sets a high-stakes precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits pending across the United States. Also read | No dog left behind: Tiny Corgi leads pack of 7 stolen dogs on miraculous 17km journey home — their story is breaking the internet | Watch video 'Profits Over Kids' A New Mexico jury has ruled that Meta engaged in unfair and deceptive practices and ordered the company to pay $375 million in civil penalties. The case, brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, accused Meta of misleading users about the safety of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, while allowing child sexual exploitation to persist on its platforms. "This is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety." Torrez said, calling the ruling "a clear message to big tech executives that no company is beyond the reach of the law". The jury found 75,000 violations of the state’s consumer protection law, awarding $5,000 for each. What the case revealed At the heart of the lawsuit was an undercover operation carried out by the attorney general’s office in 2023. Investigators created accounts posing as users under the age of 14. According to the state, those accounts were quickly exposed to explicit material and contacted by adults seeking similar content, leading to multiple criminal cases. Prosecutors argued that Meta was aware of these risks but failed to act. They pointed to internal documents that, they said, acknowledged problems around sexual exploitation and mental health harm among young users. However, despite that the company, the state says, did not institute basic safety tools such as age verification and insisted its platforms were safe. Also read | Did Patriot missiles down 3 American F-15 jets over Kuwait? Trump accidentally reveals 'little mishap' The state also accused the company of designing features such as infinite scroll and auto-play to foster addictive behaviour and keep users, especially minors, engaged despite potential harm. Meta pushes back Meta has denied the allegations and said it will appeal the verdict. "We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal," a company spokesperson said, adding that Meta has invested heavily in safety tools and continues to work to remove harmful content. "We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content."

Meta hit with a $375M verdict in a landmark case over child safety on its platforms. A US jury says the company misled parents and enabled harm, shaking its legal shield. What does this mean for Big Tech? Scroll down to read.

'Profits over kids' safety': New Mexico slaps $375m penalty on Meta for enabling child exploitation on Facebook & Instagram

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Meta reaches $18 bn settlement over child safety claims on Facebook, Instagram: Check new rules for teens

Instagram chief admits promoting teen safety tool while hiding its low adoption

Did Meta ‘hook’ children to Facebook, Instagram? Tech giant faces US trial

Meta fined $375M: Jury finds Big Tech put ‘profits over kids’ in historic ruling