Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced a proposed $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta Platforms, which would direct $219 million to Wisconsin and potentially up to $313 million if certain industry conditions are met.
The settlement, which still requires court approval, resolves claims brought by 47 states and the District of Columbia, along with several U.S. territories. The states alleged that Meta designed Instagram with addictive features, exposed young users to serious mental-health harms and misled the public about the safety of its platforms.
If approved, Meta would have to introduce significant new protections for children and teens on Instagram and Facebook, including:
A combined two-hour daily limit, with mandatory breaks after 15, 60 and 90 minutes of continuous use.
Nighttime restrictions from midnight to 6 a.m.
Reduced access and push notifications during school hours.
Stronger age-verification measures.
Additional safeguards involving bullying, eating disorders, suicide and self-harm content.
Enhanced parental controls.
Restrictions on some social-comparison features, including certain beauty filters and visible “like” counts.
Independent monitoring to assess whether the new safety measures are being implemented and are effective.
The proposed restrictions would initially remain in place for five years. Under the agreement, if Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube adopt comparable terms, some of the time restrictions could become more stringent and last for 10 years.
The investigation began in 2021 as attorneys general around the country examined the social-media industry’s treatment of children and teenagers. The settlement also includes a payment related to Meta’s sharing of nonpublic Facebook-user information with third parties, including Cambridge Analytica, leading up to the 2016 election.
Wisconsin DOJ describes the agreement as a major step toward changing how social-media platforms are designed for young users.
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