Meta Platforms agreed Wednesday to pay Idaho between $89.2 million and $127.7 million as part of a multistate settlement over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were engineered to addict young users.
The settlement involves 47 states and the District of Columbia. The total multistate payout to Meta reaches $17.1 billion, with payments distributed over the next decade.
As part of the agreement, Meta must implement child protection changes across its platforms. The company’s Chief Legal Officer called on competitors TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar safeguards.
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said the settlement addresses a serious problem. “Intentionally engineering any product to addict children is unconscionable,” Labrador told the Idaho Capital Sun.
The case alleged that Meta deliberately designed its social media platforms to maximize user engagement among minors, creating psychological dependency. The settlement requires the company to modify algorithms, notification systems, and other features that researchers have linked to compulsive use patterns in young people.
Idaho’s share of the settlement—potentially exceeding $127 million—represents one of the largest state payouts in the case, reflecting the state’s share of the national population and user base affected by the practices.