Meta settles child-safety lawsuit for up to $18 billion

Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion and implement significant child-safety reforms on its Facebook and Instagram platforms to settle a landmark lawsuit brought by 47 states, the District of Columbia, and several territories. The agreement, announced on August 26, 2026, ends a trial that began on August 18 in Oakland, California, and averts the planned testimony of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The settlement resolves claims that Meta deliberately designed features to addict children and violated federal law by collecting minors' data without parental consent. The deal covers a guaranteed payment of $12.