Meta and child safety: research, lawsuits and verdicts

Meta’s internal research, lawsuits, settlements and jury verdicts on the safety of children and teenagers.

11 entries: 3 reported, 4 ruled, under appeal, 1 admitted, 2 alleged, 1 settled.

1. Jan 2019Teenagers paid for access to their phones$20Reported
2. Sep 2021Meta’s own research on teen girls leaks32%Reported
3. Sep 2022Instagram exposed teenagers’ contact details€405MRuled, under appeal
4. Nov 2023A former safety chief testifies about unwanted advances on teens13%Reported
5. Aug 2025AI chatbots allowed romantic talk with childrenAdmitted
6. Sep 2025Former researchers say VR child-safety work was buriedAlleged
7. Mar 2026Jury finds Instagram’s design harmed a young user$6MRuled, under appeal
8. Mar 2026New Mexico jury: Meta misled families about predators$375MRuled, under appeal
9. Jul 2026EU says addictive design breaks the Digital Services ActAlleged
10. Aug 2026Judge declares Meta a public nuisance$942MRuled, under appeal
11. Aug 2026State attorneys general settle for at least $12.1 billion$12.1B+Settled