Meta settles for $18 billion in lawsuit brought by 29 states over social media harms to children

A lawsuit alleges Meta knowingly designed Instagram and Facebook to addict children despite awareness of potential harms to young users. While the article does not cite an outcome or damages, the claims raise regulatory and legal overhang around children’s safety practices and platform design. Near-term market impact is likely limited, but the risk of future restrictions and compliance costs could pressure sentiment.