Meta settlement opens new front in global fight over social media harm

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SynopsisMeta's up to $18 billion settlement with nearly 50 US ​states over social media harm to teenagers has opened a new front in a global government fight to protect children and curb addiction to platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

APMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives for a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)Meta's move to restrict teenagers' use of social media in the US shows companies have tools to better ​protect young people online, Australian regulators said on Thursday, ​as the country grapples with patchy enforcement of restrictions at home.

Meta's up to $18 billion settlement with nearly 50 US states over social media harm to teenagers has opened a new front in a global government fight to protect children and curb addiction to platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Governments around the world are trying to curb children's access to harmful online content, including a world-first ban in Australia late last year on social media for children under ‌16.

Australian Communications Minister Anika ⁠Wells said ⁠social media companies "have the tools at their disposal to protect young people from their addictive features but have chosen not to use them".

"That's why Australia took world-leading action to create a minimum ​age for social media, and we are proud that more than 20 countries are joining us," she added in an email to Reuters.

Meta agreed to pay the ​sum over a decade and limit how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram under an agreement with nearly all US states to resolve claims that it designed those platforms to addict children. Meta denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.

The deal brings sweeping changes to Meta's Facebook and Instagram platforms, including imposing ​a default two-hour limit on its apps for users under the age of 18.

Enforcement of similar restrictions ⁠in Australia ‌has, however, been patchy so far.

Early evidence suggests the law has been undermined by weak age-verification systems, with studies showing ​that most Australian teenagers ​continue to access social media months after the restrictions took effect.

Multiple studies, including from Australia's internet regulator, showed 80% ⁠of minors were still on social media months after the ban took effect in December. ​That prompted lawmakers to double the maximum fine and increase regulator powers.

As governments worldwide seek social ​media curbs, Poland's minister of digital affairs said he has asked the European Commission to impose a €250 million ($291 million) fine on Meta.

"I also call on Meta to immediately introduce effective tools to eliminate scams, false advertising, and the promotion of illegal applications," Krzysztof Gawkowski posted on X.

In Asia, countries including China, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are also seeking to curb social media activity among children.

In South Korea, the media regulator said Meta's measures should be applied to young users worldwide, rather than just in specific markets.

Philippine Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda said he hoped ‌the Meta deal "will boost my talks with Meta this morning here in Singapore at their HQ".

Aguda is meeting with Meta officials to discuss issues including online sexual abuse and exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material, financial scams targeting ​Filipinos and online grooming ​of minors.