A Historic Settlement Over Social Media Addiction

Meta, the world’s biggest social media company, reached a multibillion-dollar legal settlement on Wednesday over claims that its technology was addictive to children.



The company agreed to impose major changes to how minors use its products.



Cecilia Kang, a technology reporter for The New York Times, explains why a company that almost never backs down finally cut a deal, and whether this will start a new era of accountability for Big Tech.



Guest: Cecilia Kang (https://www.nytimes.com/by/cecilia-kang) , a reporter covering technology and regulatory policy for The New York Times.



Background reading: 




• Meta will pay up to $17.1 billion (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/technology/meta-settlement-social-media-addiction-lawsuit.html) over claims of social media addiction.


• A movement to restrict social media for children has taken hold globally (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/world/americas/children-social-media-restrictions-global-movement-meta.html) .




Photo: Jason Henry for The New York Times






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