Wisconsin could receive up to $313 million under the $17.1 billion multistate lawsuit settlement with Meta Platforms Inc., according to Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul.
In addition to the payment, Meta must also implement a sweeping set of safety features designed to protect children on Instagram and Facebook. The agreement resolves claims by 47 states that the company designed Instagram with addictive features, knowingly exposed young users to serious mental harms, and intentionally misled the public about the safety of its platforms.
The settlement is subject to court approval. Wisconsin would receive $219 million, and it could receive up to $313 million if certain industry conditions are met in the future.
“This resolution provides for several changes that prioritize kids’ well-being over Meta’s profits—as it should have been all along,” said AG Kaul. “This is a monumental step in changing the role of social media in kids’ lives for the better.”
The settlement requires Meta to implement a series of safety features on Instagram and Facebook in the settling jurisdictions, including:
▪ Strict daily time limits and “productive pauses” for children.
▪ “Nighttime blocks” restricting children’s access from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.
▪ Limited school-time access for children, eliminating push notifications on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the school year.
▪ Robust age assurance measures to more effectively verify the age of young users.
▪ Safer, age-appropriate content controls, including stronger safeguards against bullying, content promoting eating disorders, and content related to suicide and self-harm.
▪ Stronger, more user-friendly parental controls.
▪ Limits on social comparison features, including certain beauty filters and visible “like” counts, that have been linked to poor mental health outcomes in kids and teens.
▪ Both the implementation and efficacy of the features would be regularly assessed by an independent auditor and a committee of settling states.
