State AG Jeff Jackson says the agreement sets new national standards for youth protections on Meta’s platforms
RALEIGH, NC — Meta Platforms has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion to settle allegations brought by 29 states claiming the company designed Facebook and Instagram in ways that are addictive to children, misled the public about platform safety, and collected personal data from minors without proper authorization.
North Carolina is among the states participating in the settlement, joining a multistate coalition seeking nationwide changes to how Meta manages youth safety and teen engagement on its platforms. State Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced the agreement at a Wednesday press conference, noting that the settlement includes a minimum of $451 million allocated across the participating states.
Under the agreement, Meta must introduce daily time caps for teen accounts, apply overnight restrictions that prevent late‑hour scrolling, expand parental control features, and deploy enhanced age‑verification systems aimed at keeping children under 13 off the platforms. The settlement also bars all parties from appealing once the court issues its final judgment.
Meta denied wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement, stating the company continues to invest in safety features and tools designed for younger users. The allegations remain unproven in court, and Meta’s decision to settle does not constitute an admission of liability.
The announcement drew immediate attention from investors. Meta’s stock rose roughly 4.4% in premarket trading following the news, signaling market confidence in the company’s ability to move forward without prolonged litigation.
State officials said the settlement is intended to create uniform national standards for youth protections on Meta’s platforms. Implementation timelines and enforcement mechanisms will be detailed in the final judgment once approved by the court.
Source: North Carolina Attorney General’s Office
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