California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a proposed settlement in the trial involving social media company Meta. The lawsuit, brought by several US states, focuses on social media addiction and child safety. The trial took place at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, California.
The states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, alleged that Meta designed its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, to be addictive to children. The states claim Meta knowingly concealed these risks from the public. They also accused Meta of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting data from children under 13, despite having a policy against minors registering on their platforms.
The proposed settlement would require Meta to pay $17 billion over 10 years. It demands Meta make significant changes to improve safety for minors using its platforms. Rob Bonta stated that these transformations would reduce potential harm to children.
Meta agreed to implement several measures:
- A default two-hour daily time limit for users under 18, with an option for parents to lift this restriction.
- A nighttime block between midnight and 6 am.
- A ban on displaying numbers of ‘likes’ or reactions to minors’ posts.
- A ban on cosmetic surgery image filters for minors.
- An option for non-personalized feeds, not driven by algorithms targeting young users.
Additionally, Meta must appoint an independent auditor with extensive access to information and resources. The auditor will communicate with attorneys general and enforce an injunction against false statements about Meta’s safety features.
Bonta emphasized the settlement’s importance in achieving real change and transparency for protecting children on Meta’s platforms. He noted the settlement’s timing, coming only two weeks into the trial.
Insider testimony from Meta staff, including whistleblower Arturo Béjar, highlighted the company’s focus on increasing user numbers. Béjar’s testimony revealed that internal studies showed young users faced more harm than publicly acknowledged.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri was questioned by the states about a feature called ‘Take a Break’, meant to encourage teens to use the app less. The states criticized the feature’s limited effectiveness.
The settlement requires approval from Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. It marks a significant step in lawsuits against Meta, echoing similar litigation against tobacco companies in the 1990s, which led to major settlements and changes.
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