Meta’s $18 Billion Teen Safety Bill: What’s Behind the Massive Settlement?

Meta could face a settlement worth up to $18 billion over allegations involving Facebook and Instagram’s impact on teenagers, user privacy and data practices.

But Meta isn’t simply writing an $18-billion cheque. Around $12.7 billion could go to US states and territories over 10 years, while another $5.3 billion is conditional on other major social-media platforms agreeing to similar protections for teenagers.

Here’s what the deal means, why Meta wants competitors involved, and why some states are refusing to join the settlement.