Meta settles child safety allegations with $18 billion agreement
Resolving allegations that Facebook and Instagram harm children, Meta agreed to a multibillion-dollar settlement to avoid a court battle.
Meta has signed a massive $18 billion settlement to resolve allegations that Facebook and Instagram compromised children's safety.
Details of the Settlement
Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement to resolve allegations that the Facebook and Instagram platforms cause harm to children. This move allowed the company to avoid potential penalties worth hundreds of billions of dollars and a lengthy court process.
Trial and Privacy Laws
Focusing on the online privacy of users under 13 and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, the lawsuit ended after just five days of hearings, right before CEO Mark Zuckerberg was set to take the witness stand.
Internal Correspondence and New Measures
Revelations from whistleblower Arturo Bejar and internal company memos brought to light issues regarding safety features and awareness of harms. Under the settlement, Meta will introduce new safety barriers for young users, such as a default two-hour daily time limit, notifications muted during specific hours, and hidden likes.