Meta Platforms agrees to pay R266-billion settlement in social media addiction trial

• Meta Platforms will pay up to $16.7 billion to settle the social media addiction trial, agreeing to new guardrails on its platforms to restrict youth scrolling time and parental consent settings.
• The settlement requires Meta to implement new safety settings, restrict access to features like likes and beauty filters for teens, and appoint an independent auditor to oversee compliance.
• The agreement is seen as a major victory for California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who praised Meta's commitment to reducing harm from its platforms, and sets a precedent for regulating social media companies' impact on young users.