Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion over a decade to settle claims brought by nearly all U.S. states that its Facebook and Instagram platforms were designed to addict minors, marking a landmark resolution in a wave of litigation targeting social media harms.
The settlement, which Meta denied any wrongdoing in, imposes a default two-hour daily usage limit for users under 18 in the U.S. and includes restrictions on features such as autoplay and notifications. The agreement follows years of legal pressure and regulatory scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions, with authorities citing evidence that minors continued to access platforms despite age restrictions.
In Australia, where a national ban on social media use for children under 16 took effect in December, studies found that up to 80% of minors remained active on platforms months later due to weak age-verification systems. Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells criticized social media companies for failing to deploy available safeguards, stating that platforms possess tools to protect young users but have chosen not to use them.
The European Commission has also escalated its oversight of Meta under the Digital Services Act (DSA), demanding changes including disabling autoplay and infinite scrolling by default, introducing mandatory usage breaks, and altering recommendation algorithms to reduce engagement incentives. European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier emphasized that Meta must implement proper time-management and parental controls, noting that the onus is on the company to comply.
Regulatory actions extend beyond the U.S. and EU. In the Philippines, the Department of Information and Communications Technology is set to negotiate with Meta over issues including online child sexual abuse, financial scams targeting Filipinos, and inadequate safeguards for minors. Philippine officials have highlighted the need for stronger protections amid rising concerns about platform-driven harms.
Australian law firm Shine Lawyers, which has pursued similar cases in the U.S., is exploring potential legal action in Australia. Craig Allsopp, head of class actions at Shine, stated that families have long questioned whether sufficient measures were taken to shield children from features designed to maximize engagement. Allsopp added that Australian families may have grounds for claims if affected, signaling the possibility of further litigation as global scrutiny of social media platforms intensifies.
