Meta reaches $17 billion settlement with states in landmark trial over teen social media addiction

Meta has agreed to pay USD 17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday. California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023, but the deal cuts short the trial, which was expected to see CEO Mark Zuckerberg take the stand before a jury in federal court in California.

The agreement is worth USD 353 million in Virginia alone and is one of the biggest in state consumer protection history, Attorney General Jay Jones said in a statement. "For years, Meta intentionally deceived the public about the addictive and harmful design features that have wreaked havoc on youth mental health," Jones said.

The settlement "will put an end to these dangerous practices and deliver meaningful relief that will protect children from online harm." Meta did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The USD 17 billion settlement is a fraction of the company's 2025 revenue of USD 201 billion. The lawsuit accused Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hiding them from the public.