For years, parents, pediatricians, and lawmakers have raised concerns that features built into Instagram and Facebook, including endless scrolling, algorithm-driven recommendations, and public “like” counts, were designed to keep children and teenagers engaged for as long as possible, sometimes at the expense of their mental health. That concern moved from public debate into a federal courtroom this month, as Meta faced a trial brought by dozens of state attorneys general over the alleged harm its platforms caused young users.
According to the Associated Press and other outlets covering the trial, Meta and the states reached a proposed settlement on Wednesday, August 26, resolving claims brought by nearly every state and ending the trial before it reached its scheduled conclusion. The agreement still requires court approval before it becomes final.
What Did the States Allege?
The case, filed originally in 2023 and led by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey on behalf of a broader coalition of states, alleged that Meta knowingly designed Instagram and Facebook to be addictive to children and teenagers and downplayed the risks internally while marketing the platforms as safe. Testimony during the trial reportedly included statements from a former Meta employee turned whistleblower, who said the company's internal culture prioritized user growth over the wellbeing of young users, along with testimony from Instagram's head regarding the effectiveness of existing safety tools.
What Does the Settlement Require Meta to Do?
Under the terms reported so far, Meta has agreed to pay a settlement amount reported between $17 billion and $18 billion and to adopt a series of new safety measures across Instagram and Facebook, including:
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A daily time limit for minors that can only be turned off with a parent's permission
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Built-in pauses encouraging young users to take breaks from the apps
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An end to push notifications for minors during weekday school hours
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Stronger age-verification measures and age-appropriate content controls
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Limits on features tied to social comparison, such as visible “like” counts
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More accessible, user-friendly parental control tools
Two states were reportedly not part of the agreement. New Mexico already took its case against Meta to trial and won earlier this year, and Florida's attorney general said publicly that the settlement did not go far enough to hold the company accountable.
Does This Settlement Resolve Every Claim Against Meta?
No. This settlement resolves claims brought by state attorneys general, not the individual lawsuits filed by families and school districts across the country. Those cases, including the federal multidistrict litigation consolidating thousands of similar claims in the Northern District of California, are proceeding separately.
Heninger Garrison Davis is proud to serve as part of the plaintiffs' litigation team representing families in In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, the federal MDL addressing many of the same allegations at the center of this state settlement: that platform design features encouraged compulsive use among children and teens and contributed to harms including anxiety, depression, disrupted sleep, eating disorders, and, in the most tragic cases, self-harm. Every family affected by these losses deserves to have their individual circumstances heard, and this week's settlement does not change that.
What Should Alabama Families Do Now?
If your child has struggled with anxiety, depression, an eating disorder, disrupted sleep, or other harm that you believe is connected to their use of Instagram, Facebook, or another social media platform, you may be able to make a claim on behalf of your child. The settlement with the state attorneys general does not close the door on pursuing a claim.
Heninger Garrison Davis is currently pursuing social media addiction claims on behalf of families and is still accepting new clients. If you have questions about your child's situation and whether you may have a claim, contact HGD attorney Chris Hood [email protected] for a free, confidential consultation.
