PODCAST:
Aug. 27, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson speak with professor Kentaro Toyama of the University of Michigan School of Information about Wednesday’s Meta lawsuit settlement.
On Wednesday, Meta agreed to a nearly $18 million settlement in a federal case accusing large social media companies of creating algorithms designed to get children addicted to their platforms.
Meta, who owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, also agreed to implement more child safety efforts, such as daily use limits and prevention of nighttime use for teens. The settlement payment applies to nearly every state in the U.S. and the District of Columbia, and will be paid out by Meta over 10 years.
Dozens of states filed the suit alleging that Meta violated state consumer protection laws and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Meta has denied any wrongdoings.
However, the settlement is not the end of Meta’s legal woes, with similar lawsuits still traversing the courts from individuals and school districts.
