Meta Platforms has reached a $17 billion settlement with 47 US states, resolving allegations that it knowingly designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to teenage users. State attorneys general claim Meta deliberately engineered its platforms to exploit vulnerabilities in young people’s brains, contributing to mental health issues. The agreement includes significant financial compensation to the states and requires Meta to implement new child-safety features. These measures aim to protect young users from harmful content and addictive design practices. The lawsuit accused Meta of deceiving the public about the risks associated with its platforms. This settlement marks a major outcome in the growing scrutiny of social media’s impact on youth wellbeing. Meta did not admit wrongdoing as part of the agreement.