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Getty Images<\/p>\n\t\tGetty Images<\/p>\n
Meta just agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion to settle claims that Facebook and Instagram harmed kids and teens. It\u2019s a huge number, for sure. but the more interesting part for parents might be what\u2019s going to change on our kids\u2019 phones.<\/b><\/p>\n
At a Glance:<\/p>\n
Psst\u2026Check Out MUJI Is Opening New Stores in the New York Area, With Two Firsts for Local Families<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n The Meta Settlement<\/p>\n New York is set to get somewhere between $819 million and $1.15 billion out of the deal, according to Attorney General Letitia James\u2019 office. That money isn\u2019t going straight into our personal pockets, though. Instead, it will go toward things like mental health services, education programs, and other efforts to help address the effects of heavy social media use on young people.<\/p>\n This all began back in 2023. AG James and a group of other attorneys general sued Meta, arguing the company built features like infinite scroll, constant notifications, and engagement-driven algorithms specifically to hook kids, and even worse, that Meta knew the risks but kept doing it anyway. Meta isn\u2019t admitting to any wrongdoing as part of the deal, but the settlement will still bring big changes for how kids can use Instagram and Facebook.<\/p>\n What Is Changing for Kids<\/p>\n There are quite a few changes to make the platforms safer for kids:<\/p>\n Parents Get More Say<\/p>\n Meta is also improving age verification and giving parents more tools to manage their kids\u2019 accounts, along with extra safeguards to help keep kids under 13 off the platforms in the first place. On top of that, families will be able to turn off the algorithm-driven feed entirely, so parents (or older kids or teens) can choose to see content that isn\u2019t designed to keep them scrolling for as long as possible.<\/p>\n The settlement still needs court approval, and the new protections will roll out gradually, not all at once.<\/p>\n Psst\u2026Check Out Why Are So Many Women Supporting Lindsay Clancy?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n
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