Technology giant Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with the attorneys general of 48 US states and several US territories over allegations that its social media platforms harmed children.
Under the agreement, Meta will introduce major changes to Facebook and Instagram, including an automatic two-hour daily usage limit for users under 18.
The settlement also includes a condition linking part of the payment to measures by TikTok and YouTube. Meta will initially pay 70% of the settlement, while the remaining $5.3 billion would be due if TikTok and YouTube agree to impose a one-hour daily limit on underage users and each pay a similar amount to the states.
The settlement will be distributed among participating states over 10 years, based on their populations. New Mexico and Florida are not currently part of the agreement.
Meta will also introduce a “Night Mode”, automatically blocking its apps for minors between midnight and 6am, as well as a “School Mode” that disables notifications from 8am to 3pm. These settings can only be changed with parental approval.
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