Overview
- The states and Meta announced the proposed settlement on Wednesday, offering roughly $16.7–$18 billion in payments to be paid over ten years to participating U.S. jurisdictions.
- The deal requires default protections for under‑18 accounts including a two‑hour daily limit, blocked access overnight, a school‑mode that mutes notifications, hidden like counts, autoplay off, an opt‑in non‑algorithmic feed, stronger age checks, and expanded parental controls.
- About 30% of the total payment and tighter restrictions will be released only if TikTok and YouTube adopt comparable safeguards and make matching payments, otherwise Meta would pay roughly 70% of the fund.
- The agreement applies only in the U.S. states and territories that joined the suit and still needs judge approval and durable enforcement measures such as independent audits and practical age‑assurance systems to prevent circumvention.
- Trial evidence presented in Oakland included internal Meta documents and witness testimony showing employees flagged harms to young users and resisted making safety settings the default to avoid reducing engagement, a factual record that shaped the settlement and could influence regulators abroad.