The Trump administration’s focus on protecting families is reflected in a landmark settlement announced Wednesday by D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb. Meta Platforms Inc. has agreed to pay the District of Columbia at least $90.3 million, with the total amount potentially reaching $129.4 million over ten years.
Financial impact for the District
The agreement provides ten guaranteed installments of roughly $9.04 million each. An additional $3.9 million per installment could be triggered if other major social‑media companies adopt comparable child‑protection measures, bringing the maximum payout to $129,356,761.71. The funds may be used for youth mental‑health programs, crisis‑intervention services, after‑school activities, digital‑wellness education, and phone‑free school initiatives.
New safeguards for teens
Meta must impose a default two‑hour daily limit for users aged 13‑17 on Instagram and Facebook. Once the limit is reached, access to covered features shuts down until midnight unless a supervising parent authorizes a longer setting. Messaging, settings adjustments, and certain long‑form content are exempt.
Additional protections include:
- “Productive Pauses” that interrupt prolonged scrolling.
- Lockout of feeds from midnight to 6 a.m., with push notifications silenced from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Stricter controls during school hours (8 a.m.‑3 p.m., Aug. 15‑June 15).
- Mandatory age‑assurance system within a year, subject to annual third‑party testing.
Content restrictions
The settlement also requires Meta to limit exposure to bullying, self‑harm, eating disorders, nudity, sexual activity, violence, gambling, and restricted substances. Features that encourage social comparison, such as certain appearance‑altering filters and visible popularity metrics, must be curtailed.
Oversight and compliance
An independent auditor will monitor Meta’s implementation, develop compliance measurement methods, and report findings to the participating states. The auditor must identify material weaknesses and verify corrective actions.
Schwalb called the deal a “monumental public‑health victory,” emphasizing that the physical, mental, and emotional harms inflicted on youth—especially teenage girls—are widespread across the tech industry. He warned that Meta’s settlement is likely the first step in a broader effort to hold big‑tech accountable for protecting children.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
