▲ Meta
Meta Platforms, the operator of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to pay approximately 17 billion dollars—about 23.5 trillion won in Korean currency—and strengthen youth protection measures to resolve lawsuits filed by U.S. state governments alleging that the company induced youth addiction.
Local time on the 26th, foreign media outlets including the Associated Press reported that Meta had reached this settlement with 47 U.S. states and others.
The settlement agreement will take effect after court approval.
Under the structure of the agreement, Meta will first pay approximately 12 billion dollars, and if other major social media companies reach similar settlements with state governments in the future, it will pay additional settlement funds, bringing the total payout up to approximately 17 billion dollars.
In addition, Meta decided to limit the daily usage time on Facebook and Instagram for users under the age of 18 to a combined total of two hours across both platforms.
Previously, state governments filed lawsuits claiming that Meta intentionally designed addictive features to keep children and adolescents lingering on its platforms for long periods while failing to properly disclose the associated risks.