Attorney General Davenport Announces Historic $17 Billion Settlement With Meta

– Jennifer Davenport, Attorney General

MDL Joint Motion for Entry | MDL Consent Judgment | Video

Key details

Under this settlement, which is subject to court approval, Meta must implement a sweeping set of safety features designed to protect children and teenagers on Instagram and Facebook—fundamentally changing how the social media industry designs products for children and teens.

The social media settlement requires Meta to implement a series of safety features on Instagram and Facebook, including:

A daily time limit of two hours combined for Instagram and Facebook use, with automatic pauses after 15 minutes of continuous use, and again after 60 and 90 minutes—to remain in effect for 5 years.

Limited school‑time access for children, with limited push notifications on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the school year.

Enhanced procedures to more effectively verify the age of users.

Stronger safeguards against bullying, content promoting eating disorders, and content related to suicide and self‑harm.

Independent audits of Meta’s implementation and the impact of these new safety features, reported to and reviewed by concerned states.

Background and context

What officials said

As a parent, protecting your kids is always your North Star.

And this agreement achieves critical protections for our children today,” said Attorney General Davenport.

It would not have been possible without our amazing litigation team, who worked with their counterparts across the country to bring this groundbreaking case.

Nighttime blocks” restricting youth access from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Restricted social comparison features, including beauty filters and visible “like” counts linked to poor mental health outcomes in children and teens.

Why it matters to residents

The agreement resolves claims by 47 States and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands that the company designed its platform with addictive features, knowingly exposed young users to serious mental harms, and intentionally misled the public about the safety of its platforms, among other things.

What happens next

Having co-led this multistate effort, New Jersey will also receive at least $525 million, and could receive over $752 million.

If Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube adopt comparable terms, the daily limit on each platform will drop to 60 minutes, and extend to 10 years.

Parent controls that are easier to use and more effective.

Legal note: Charges and allegations are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.