Meta has reached a landmark $18 billion settlement in a major US federal case accusing the company of endangering children through its social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The settlement, finalized on Wednesday, August 27, 2026, compels Meta to introduce new safety measures for users under 18, such as night curfews and two-hour daily usage limits.

The legal action involved 29 US states that sued Meta, alleging the company designed its platforms to encourage addictive behavior, failed to verify users' ages adequately, allowed adolescents to bypass parental controls, and did not sufficiently protect against harmful or exploitative content. These claims were detailed in filings at the Court of Appeal in California.

Meta, originally founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, agreed to pay up to $16.7 billion to 47 US states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands as part of the settlement.

Despite these measures, the Australian internet watchdog eSafety reported in August 2026 that over 80% of young Australian teens and preteens continue to use these platforms, largely due to ineffective age verification procedures.

Sacha Haworth, executive director of The Tech Oversight Project, which advocates for youth online safety, described the deal as a "historic settlement that will have a lasting impact," but emphasized that true protection requires permanent, platform-wide safeguards mandated by Congress.

Thomas Regnier commented, "We have been very clear … Meta knows what we are expecting from them. … the ball is in Meta’s court. Now it is for the company to offer these commitments in the European Union to protect our kids here, too."

The settlement aligns with a global trend toward stricter regulation of social media use by minors. In June 2026, the UK government announced a sweeping ban on social media access for individuals under 16, following Australia's pioneering efforts in this area.

Sources