Maryland is set to receive up to $327 million as part of a landmark multistate settlement of up to $17.1 billion with Meta Platforms, Inc., Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced.
The settlement, which requires federal court approval, resolves allegations that Meta designed Instagram and Facebook with addictive features, exposed young users to mental health harms and misled the public about platform safety.
Under the agreement, Meta would be required to introduce new protections for children, including a combined two-hour daily limit on Instagram and Facebook, mandatory breaks during continuous use, nighttime blocks from midnight to 6am and restrictions on school-day notifications. The company must also strengthen age verification, parental controls and protections against harmful content, while limiting features such as beauty filters and visible like counts.
“This settlement is historic, both in size and in scope,” Brown said, adding that it establishes “real, enforceable safeguards” for young users.
The agreement follows a nationwide investigation into social media platforms and their impact on children and teens. It also resolves state claims related to Meta’s sharing of nonpublic Facebook user information with third parties, including Cambridge Analytica.
