Arkansas will receive at least $172 million as part of a landmark settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, aimed at addressing online child safety. The multistate agreement, which totals $17.1 billion and involves 51 attorneys general, requires Meta to implement new safety measures, though the settlement is still pending court approval.
Attorney General Tim Griffin and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, both Republicans, have championed increased scrutiny of social media platforms through lawsuits and legislation. They characterized the settlement as a major step forward for safeguarding children online.
Although the Meta settlement marks a significant resolution, other lawsuits involving social media platforms remain active in Arkansas courts:
### TikTok Cases
In 2023, Griffin filed lawsuits against TikTok in both Cleburne and Union counties, alleging the platform misled parents regarding the prevalence of mature content accessible to children. The lawsuits claim violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. TikTok sought to have the cases dismissed under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which shields internet companies from liability for users’ content. A judge in Cleburne County rejected this motion, and a trial is scheduled for March 2027. The case in Union County remains pending, with no trial date set.
### Google and YouTube Litigation
A 2024 lawsuit filed by Griffin in Phillips County accuses YouTube, Google, and their parent companies of intentionally promoting addictive and harmful content to children. The companies argued for dismissal citing protections under the Communications Decency Act, but a judge denied the request. That decision is now on appeal before the Arkansas Court of Appeals.
### Snapchat Case
In June, the attorney general filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., the California-based parent company of Snapchat, alleging the platform is designed to addict minors. Originally filed in Phillips County, Snap has filed a motion to move the case to federal court. Griffin is seeking to transfer it back to state jurisdiction.
### Discord and Roblox Allegations
Another lawsuit, brought by Griffin in Los Angeles in June, targets social gaming platforms Discord and Roblox. The complaint alleges the companies endanger children by exposing them to potential sexual predation and accuses them of violating Arkansas’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act and Public Nuisance Law. A hearing is scheduled for November.
### Legislative Challenges
These legal battles unfold as Arkansas defends legislative efforts to regulate social media access. A 2023 law requiring age verification for new social media accounts was struck down as unconstitutional. A revised 2025 version was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in April. Arguments are set to be heard at the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals next month. This updated law also includes provisions requiring platforms to maintain certain default safety settings for minors.
Separately, a law enacted in 2025 allows parents to sue social media platforms if exposure to their content leads to a child’s eating disorder, suicide, or social media addiction. That law was blocked in December by a federal judge, and the state has since appealed to the 8th Circuit.
Meta's settlement with Arkansas and other states underscores the intensifying legal and regulatory push to hold social media companies accountable for online child protection measures.