Topic

Meta pays $16.7bn, limits minors

2 months ago

Meta settled with multiple U.S. states for about $16.7 billion and agreed to new limits on minors’ Facebook and Instagram use, including daily time caps and banning cosmetic filters.

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Meta, mid trial, agrees to settle claims that Facebook and Instagrams harmed children with the owner of the social media platform to pay 29 states more than $16 billion. www.reuters.com/world/us/meta...
Meta settles with US states over social media harms
Meta Platforms reached a settlement to resolve claims brought by states across the country that the company designed Instagram and Facebook to addict children, misled consumers about their safety, and improperly collected personal data of children who used its platforms.
www.reuters.com
August 26, 2026 at 1:07 PM
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Meta is in the midst of a trial for addicting children to its websites. It could cost them $200 billion (or even $1.4 *trillion* by some accounts). It could be the end of social media as we know it, and @ryanlcooper.com feels fine: "Social media... is a gravely toxic institution."
Is This Social Media’s Big Tobacco Moment? - The American Prospect
Meta is being sued for up to $200 billion over allegedly harming children. That would be a good start.
prospect.org
August 26, 2026 at 1:40 PM
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Meta reaches $17 billion settlement in case involving childrens' use of its platforms www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
Meta agrees to pay up to $17.1bn to settle claims its platforms harm children
As part of the settlement, in which the company denies wrongdoing, the Facebook and Instagram owner agrees to make changes to its platforms nationwide.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM
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It is settled that a company that does these things to children is evil
BREAKING: Meta reached a settlement to resolve claims brought by states across the country that the company designed Instagram and Facebook to addict children, misled consumers about their safety, and improperly collected personal data of children who used its platforms reut.rs/4ccCj2r
Meta settles with US states over social media harms
Meta Platforms reached a settlement to resolve claims brought by states across the country that the company designed Instagram and Facebook to addict children, misled consumers about their safety, and...
reut.rs
August 26, 2026 at 1:09 PM
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I can see why they settled. This is not that much to make the whole thing go away.
Meta Will Pay Up to $16.7 Billion to Settle Its Social Media Harms Case—and That’s Not All
In addition to sending billions of dollars to states, Meta will make substantive changes to its platforms as part of a landmark settlement.
www.wired.com
August 26, 2026 at 3:16 PM
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Meta is a creep who will _never_ take no for an answer, and never stop trying to ignore their lack of consent. Every media & regulatory organization in the world seems determined to ignore this reality; I genuinely don't understand why. Today's settlement is so that Meta can keep violating consent.
August 26, 2026 at 8:52 PM
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Every major tech firm should be litigated into the deep dark dirt and their CEOs and inner circle cronies locked in prison for the rest of their natural lives.

People ask all the time what needs to be done and that has to be part of it.

www.cnbc.com/2026/08/26/m...
Meta settles social media addiction case with California, other states for $16.7 billion
Meta and state attorneys general settled a federal trial centering on allegations that company misrepresented the extent of child-related mental health harms.
www.cnbc.com
August 26, 2026 at 1:57 PM
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My take is that Meta's pain is just beginning. This doesn't cut off liability in all of the individual suits, and the states will soon find other allegedly harmful practices not covered by the releases in the agreement (depending on how they're worded).
August 26, 2026 at 2:23 PM
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That makes EU fines look like small fry.
August 26, 2026 at 3:18 PM
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Meta to Pay Up to $17 Billion in Landmark Settlement Over Social Media Addiction Claims www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/t...
Meta to Pay Up to $17.1 Billion in Landmark Settlement Over Social Media Addiction Claims
The social media giant settled with 47 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, and agreed to make major changes to its products over claims its platforms endangered children.
www.nytimes.com
August 26, 2026 at 1:39 PM
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#Meta Squeeze them until the pips squeak.

But the downside: what the U.S. can't regulate through sensible legislation, we shall regulate through torts.

www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/t...
Meta to Pay Up to $17.1 Billion in Landmark Settlement Over Social Media Addiction Claims
The social media giant settled with 47 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, and agreed to make major changes to its products over claims its platforms endangered children.
www.nytimes.com
August 26, 2026 at 7:21 PM
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Meta agrees to massive settlement with states over child safety www.axios.com/2026/08/26/m...
Meta agrees to massive settlement with states over child safety
Meta agreed to settle with U.S. states in a landmark lawsuit over allegations Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that harm children.
www.axios.com
August 26, 2026 at 1:44 PM
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Know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run?
Meta agrees to pay up to $17.1bn to settle claims its platforms harm children
The Facebook and Instagram owner, which denies wrongdoing, says the agreement builds on its "longstanding efforts to empower parents and support teens".
www.bbc.co.uk
August 26, 2026 at 2:36 PM