PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota could receive more than $52.6 million as part of a $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, aimed at strengthening online protections for children and teenagers.
Attorney General Marty Jackley announced the agreement this week, saying the settlement includes both a record financial award and new safeguards for young users. The deal still requires federal court approval.
Under the proposed settlement, Meta would be required to implement a two-hour daily combined time limit for young users across Facebook and Instagram for the next five years. The agreement would also include reminders to take breaks, overnight usage restrictions between midnight and 6 a.m., stronger age verification measures, and expanded parental controls.
Additional protections would target content related to bullying, eating disorders, suicide, and self-harm, while also limiting features such as beauty filters and visible “like” counts that can contribute to social pressure among young users.
The settlement stems from a lawsuit brought by South Dakota and dozens of other states alleging Meta knowingly designed features that encouraged excessive use by young people.
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