Meta to Pay Up to $16.68 Billion to Settle Teen Harm Case With States

09:35 AM EDT, 08/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Meta Platforms (META) has agreed to pay a maximum of $16.68 billion to resolve the claims brought by several US states that the tech giant used its platforms to "ensnare" youth and teens, according to a filing in federal court. The injunctive relief within the consent judgement requires "(1) default daily limits and nighttime blocks for teenage users of Meta's Social Media Platforms; (2) enhanced age assurance measures to prevent children from accessing the Platforms, or age-restricted content available on the Platforms; (3) establishment of additional tools to help parents and guardians to protect their children online; and (4) Meta to make payments to Plaintiffs as provided therein," the filing said. Meta didn't immediately reply to a request for comment from MT Newswires.