Meta agrees to billion-dollar settlement over teen addiction and adds child safety measures
Meta has reached a settlement over a landmark US trial alleging its platforms harmed teenagers, and agreed to add new child safety features.
Meta has settled a major US legal case concerning teen social media addiction, with the company agreeing to pay billions of dollars. As part of the settlement, Meta must implement stronger child safety measures on Facebook and Instagram, including time limits, night blocks, and improved age verification for teenagers. The settlement represents a significant moment for tech regulation around child protection.
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Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.
What outlets are saying
Stuff
Meta reaches $28.6 billion settlement in landmark US trial over teen social media addiction
Meta did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The US$17 billion settlement is a fraction of the company's 2025 revenue of US$201 billion.
Newstalk ZB
Mitch McCann: US correspondent on Meta agreeing to pay 18 billion US dollars in a settlement deal
Meta's cut a landmark US trial over teen social media addiction short – agreeing to pay 18-billion US dollars in a settlement deal.
Stuff
Meta agrees to add child safety measures to Facebook and Instagram in landmark settlement
Meta did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The US$17 billion settlement is a fraction of the company's 2025 revenue of US$201 billion.
NZ Herald
Meta agrees to pay $29b to settle child safety lawsuit
Meta must add time limits, night blocks and stronger age checks for teens.
1News
Meta reaches $30b settlement in teen social media addiction trial
The company also agreed to add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms as part of a landmark legal settlement.
Stuff
Tech faces its ‘Big Tobacco’ moment as Meta settles addiction case
Mark Zuckerberg has agreed to make changes to Facebook and Instagram that could change social media forever
Newstalk ZB
Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: This Meta outcome could be more efficient than a social media ban
Listen, if you somehow find yourself weirdly unconvinced that social media is bad for kids, just take a look at what Facebook and Instagram have done. It's huge.
1News
A look at major lawsuits against social media firms over harms to kids
Meta on Thursday reached a $30 billion settlement over a landmark teen social media addiction trial.