Meta agrees to 16.68B settlement over child's social media risks

Meta has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion in a settlement over claims that its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, harmed children and teens by encouraging addiction and improperly collecting personal data. The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by 29 states during a California federal trial, which alleged violations of consumer protection laws and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Meta denied wrongdoing and plans to implement platform changes, including usage limits and nighttime blocks for teenage users.