On August 26, 2026, in the second week of a federal trial in Oakland, Meta reached a settlement with a coalition of state attorneys general. The figures are enormous, roughly $12.2 billion over ten years, up to $17.1 billion if certain conditions are met. But not one dollar goes directly to families.
What the Settlement Contains
Per the court-approved consent judgment: a default two-hour daily limit for teen accounts, a default midnight-to-6 a.m. lockout, an age-assurance system within a year, and an independent auditor. States will use the money for youth mental-health programs, education and enforcement.
What It Does Not Resolve
The settlement covers only the state attorneys general's claims. It does not resolve the 3,800+ individual cases in federal court (MDL 3047), the 3,000+ cases in California state court (JCCP 5255), or the school-district claims. Those continue.
Other Public Settlements
In New Mexico, a jury found 75,000 violations of the state's unfair-practices law and the judge ordered a $567 million fund. In Alabama, TikTok agreed to pay between $100 and $300 million. None of these pays individual families either.
Why This Helps Private Cases
Settlements are not admissions of guilt, but the design changes Meta accepted, time limits, nighttime lockouts, are exactly the measures private plaintiffs say should have existed from the start. And the evidence presented in those trials is now public.
How Family Lawsuits Continue
A second individual trial against Meta and Snap began in Los Angeles on October 28, 2026. More trials are scheduled for March and August 2027. Each case is evaluated separately: age at onset, platforms, diagnosis, treatment and deadlines.
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