META AGREES $17BN-$18BN SETTLEMENT OVER TEEN SOCIAL MEDIA HARM

Meta has agreed to pay between $17bn and $18bn to settle a lawsuit brought by 47 US states accusing the company of designing addictive products that harm teenagers and children. The settlement concludes legal proceedings that began last week in California and ends a trial expected to include testimony from Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. Meta admits no wrongdoing as part of the agreement. The settlement is viewed as one of the largest in US consumer protection history.

Under the terms agreed, Meta must introduce mandatory safety features for users under 18 on Instagram and Facebook, including a two-hour daily time limit for teenagers, a night-time block between midnight and 6am, muting of notifications during school hours, and hiding "like" counts on posts by default. The company must also implement tougher age verification systems and reminders after every 15 minutes of continuous use. Additional restrictions include blocking teenagers from using extreme makeup filters and restricting access during school hours. Meta stated the settlement would build on its "longstanding efforts to empower parents and support teens" and said the funds would be distributed annually for youth online safety initiatives.

UK Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said Thursday that the Government expects Meta to apply these protections to British teenagers as well, stating he does not want young people in America to have higher protection than those in Britain. The new measures will not automatically apply worldwide without further action by Meta. District of Columbia attorney general Brian Schwalb called the settlement a "monumental public health victory" that would "fundamentally and immediately change how young people use Instagram and Facebook."