Arkansas will collect at least $172.5 million from Meta as part of a $17 billion settlement with 47 states, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Wednesday. The agreement, which comes after lawsuits alleging Facebook and Instagram platforms contributed to teen social media addiction, includes new safety measures for children.
Griffin’s office filed suit against Meta in March 2023, accusing the company of violating the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The suit claimed Meta knowingly misled parents and minors about the addictive nature of its platforms and their adverse effects on mental health.
“For years, Meta represented that its platforms posed no risk to the mental health of young people,” Griffin said in a statement. “All while knowing that its algorithms were designed to get kids hooked and to keep them online for as long as possible, with well-documented adverse mental health consequences.”
The settlement avoids a landmark trial in federal court in California, where Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had been expected to testify. In response, Meta characterized the deal as a continuation of its work to promote safer online experiences for teens.
“Ensuring teens have a safe and productive experience on our platforms is an absolute imperative for Meta,” the company stated in a blog post. “We want to get this right for parents and teens, and that’s why we partnered with state attorneys general to set a new industry standard.”
The settlement also mandates safety improvements on Facebook and Instagram to address concerns surrounding teen mental health, though specific details about those measures have not been disclosed.