Meta to pay up to $18bn to settle claims its platforms harm children

Meta Platforms will pay up to $18 billion over the next decade and strictly limit how teenagers use Facebook and ​Instagram, under an agreement with nearly all U.S. states to resolve claims it designed those social media platforms to addict children.

The settlements announced on Wednesday end a federal trial over allegations Meta’s products harmed children and the ‌company misled the public about their safety. Four of the states — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey — were expected to seek close to $200 billion in civil penalties.

While Meta will not undergo a fundamental overhaul, the accords represent a sweeping effort to define how it serves young users.