Meta pays 17 billion dollars for a settlement in the lawsuit regarding social media addiction

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, has accepted a $16.68 billion settlement that imposes strict rules for teenage users, including daily limits and a 'nighttime quarantine.' The settlement, which is subject to court approval, ends a lawsuit filed in Oakland, California, by 29 states, accusing the company of harming the mental health of young people through its platforms.

Meta has denied the allegations, arguing that it cannot mislead consumers about social media addiction, but has agreed to implement changes requested by the states, including a parental verification process and changes to recommendation algorithms.

The Attorney General of Washington DC, Brian Schwalb, called the settlement a 'monumental victory' for the public health of young people, emphasizing that Meta has exploited children for profit. This is the first platform to accept the reforms, but other companies in the tech sector face similar accusations.