Meta To Pay Billions In Child Endangerment Settlement, Issues No Apology

The historic trial against Meta over claims that its products endanger children has resulted in a settlement in which they will pay up to $17.1 billion. The settlement requires Meta to pay financial penalties for violating federal child privacy and states’ consumer protection laws.

By choosing to settle, the company paid to avoid yet another trial outcome that would force it into accountability. Because of the data-extraction business model Meta has used on our children and all users for years, it has more than the means to pay this settlement. Reports estimate Meta will make the equivalent of the $17 billion payout back in profit in the next 30 days.

Alongside the settlement, Meta announced it will be making significant product changes for teens, including restricting platform use between 12 am and 6 am, stopping notifications during school hours, an optional chronological feed (as opposed to one based on algorithmically recommended interest-based content), and banning features that negatively impact mental health like beauty filters. Restricting teens’ time on the platforms, if successfully enforced, would hit the company’s business model, which relies on users spending as much time on the app as possible to see ads and generate data for advertisers.

Meta’s statement about these changes suggests it worked with 52 state attorneys to reach these product decisions, showing how unanimous the desire for change is across the United States. Their statement also emphasizes empowering parents with additional controls, which will need to be tested for effectiveness given Meta’s history of placing responsibility for safety solely on parents.

The statement fails to apologize or mention the billions it will pay out because of claims brought by the 29-state coalition and the 47 states plus the District of Columbia and territories included in the settlement. Their statement calls on YouTube and TikTok to join them in making similar design changes, and this agreement may also affect similar claims against other social media giants like Snap, YouTube, and TikTok. 

We hope it quickly sparks change from other tech leaders across the industry.

This result clearly signals that Meta and social media companies understand they are up against an immovable force of parents, survivors, and advocates who will not back down until we see change in how our young people interact with online spaces. It is a positive step for everyone advocating for safer online spaces and at the same time – far from the end of the journey to a better online world.

We celebrate with the parent and youth partners, legal and policy experts, and allies everywhere fighting for accountability. As always, we stand with them as they seek justice going forward, ensuring child online safety is built into any online space where our young people spend time.