On August 26, 2026, Meta reached a landmark settlement with 47 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, agreeing to pay up to $17.1 billion and make significant changes to their platforms. The settlement comes three years after Meta was sued by 33 attorney generals who alleged that Meta intentionally exploited young users with features that its employees and executives knew to be addictive and harmful.

Lawsuits filed against Meta and other social media companies including Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube allege that addictive algorithms, use of infinite scroll, and incessant notifications were designed to recommend content that would keep users on their platform for as long as possible causing users to become addicted. However, these features are especially dangerous for minors. Social media addictions can have a disastrous impact on the mental health of minors and are associated with worsened anxiety, depression, aggression, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors, according to a 2025 study published by JAMA.

The settlement represents a turning point for victims of social media addiction who have suffered devastating consequences as a result of the addiction. In conjunction with the rise of addictive AI chatbots, it is essential that protections are put in place to protect all users, but especially minors, from becoming addicted.

At the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm, our New York City Social Media Addiction lawyers have experience working with wrongfully injured children and can help hold the responsible parties accountable. If you or a loved one have been harmed as a result of social media addiction, contact our office today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Terms of Meta’s $17.1 Billion Settlement

Meta’s landmark settlement was reached during a bellwether trial in the Northern District of California where several states alleged that Meta violated state consumer statutes and the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). 

As part of the settlement, Meta agreed to implement the following changes to their products: 

• Limit the amount of time teenagers spend on their platform, including by imposing a two-hour daily time limit 
• Stop notifications and alerts at night between midnight and 6am and during the school day between 8am and 3pm 
• Stop endless scrolling 
• Limit the use of distorting filters 
• Providing the option to opt out of addictive algorithmic feeds
• Stricter age verification 
• Mindfulness reminders
• Policies to prevent harassment and bullying 
• Restricting inappropriate accounts

According to the terms of Meta’s agreement, the monetary settlement will be paid out over 10 years, and the money will be allocated towards mental health services, educational programs, and other programs designed to repair and reduce the harm caused by social media addictions. Meta also reported that 30% of their settlement, about $5.3 billion, will be released only if YouTube and TikTok agree to implement safety features and contribute the same amount.

Social Media Addiction Protection in New York

The New York State Attorney General was part of the group of attorney generals who initially brought the lawsuit forward in 2023. As a result of the settlement, New York State is expected to receive anywhere from $819 million to $1.15 billion, which will be distributed as grants to schools to implement phone-free classrooms, provide training for mental health professional, provide after school summer programming, and to create public health programs, according to the Office of the Attorney General.

New York State senators have also taken additional steps to protect minors from other addictive technological features. In February 2026, the New York State Senate passed legislation to protect minors from unsafe features in chatbots and to prevent AI from impersonating licensed professionals and mental health workers. 

Furthermore, the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, which prohibits social media platforms from providing addictive feeds and sending notifications between the hours of midnight and 6am for users under the age of 18 will go into effect on January 25, 2027. 

New York Social Media Addiction and AI Chatbot Addiction Lawyer

Although Meta’s settlement represents a step in the right direction, hundreds of families have already suffered from devastating consequences as a result of social media’s use of addictive and harmful algorithms. In recent years, numerous families have lost their teens by suicide or have witnessed their teens endure serious mental health disorders due to social media or AI chatbot addiction. 

If your child has passed away or been hospitalized following social media or AI chatbot addictions, contact the Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm today for a free confidential consultation.