Missouri claims part of $17 billion Meta lawsuit settlement

By Maddie Carr, Missouri News Network
Posted 9/2/26

The state of Missouri could receive up to $150 million as part of a proposed $17.1 billion consumer protection settlement with social media company Meta, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway …

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Missouri claims part of $17 billion Meta lawsuit settlement

Posted

The state of Missouri could receive up to $150 million as part of a proposed $17.1 billion consumer protection settlement with social media company Meta, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced Wednesday.

The state is one of 47 that filed suit against Meta — which owns Instagram and Facebook — over claims that it designed Instagram to be addictive, harming the mental health of young users and misleading the public about platform safety.

“As a mother, I know how critical it is to shield kids from predators, addictive material and content that harms their mental health,” Hanaway said in a news release. “Every minor should be secure the moment they log on, and we will continue working toward a digital environment where children are truly protected, no matter where they live or which platform they use.”

Missouri will receive between $100 million and $150 million from the proposed settlement, according to the release.

As part of the settlement, Meta is required to bring several safety changes to its platforms for minors, including daily time limits, nighttime blocks, content controls, limited features and age verification, among others.

“We are proud that Missouri could be a part of this broad, nationwide coalition. The safety measures Meta has agreed to implement as part of the settlement will provide meaningful protections for families,” a spokesperson from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office said in an email.

“Our office has a strong record of advocating for young people in online spaces, and we remain committed to ensuring the safety of minors across digital platforms,” he added.