Meta settles $17B lawsuit with Iowa and 46 other states over teen mental health claims
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to a $17 billion settlement with 47 states, including Iowa, to resolve claims that its platforms harmed teens’ mental health and contributed to social media addiction.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird celebrated the settlement, which guarantees Iowa $126 million over the next 10 years. Iowa will receive another $9 million payment related to legal and other fees from the settlement, bringing the total to $135 million.
“It’s very important that we protect kids online,” Bird said.
The settlement, announced Wednesday morning, resolves allegations that Meta’s platforms caused mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, and even suicide among young people. Bird emphasized that the agreement will provide improved parental controls to help families safeguard their children.
“The settlement will give us better parental controls that are more user-friendly so that parents can really be involved in monitoring what’s going on and keeping their child safe,” Bird said.
The agreement comes just over a week after a trial began in California. Under the settlement, Meta will fund youth online safety initiatives in multiple states and implement new daily time limits for teens on its platforms.
Bird, along with other attorneys general, argued that Meta violated state consumer protection laws by harming children and misrepresenting the safety of Instagram.
Kari Zimmerman, a social worker at Orchard Place, a mental health treatment center, praised the settlement as a positive step.
“I think that’s one step in the right direction,” Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman also highlighted the challenges parents face in ensuring online safety for their children.
“Monitor and safety for youth is a full-time job for parents and caregivers. It’s so complex. So, if we can build technology platforms that have them embedded in them, that just is more supportive of families — greater access for families right now,” Zimmerman said.
Bird expressed hope that the settlement would send a strong message to tech companies.
“And they should never put the profits from having a child on their platform above the ultimate goal that we all share of keeping kids safe. And if they don’t do the right thing, we’ll see them in court and hold them accountable,” Bird said.
As part of the agreement, Meta does not admit to any wrongdoing. Bird said she expects the changes to Facebook and Instagram to take effect within the next six months.
Editor’s note: In addition to the $126M the Iowa AG’s Office announced, Iowa will receive another $9M payment that covers legal and other fees and expenses, bringing Iowa’s guaranteed settlement total to $135M.