FILE: California Attorney General Rob Bonta arrives at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Oakland before the start of the trial against Meta Platforms Inc. The social media company has agreed to a proposed $17 billion settlement in the case, Wednesday, Aug. 26. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

OAKLAND, CA., 8/26/2026 — Meta Inc., parent company of the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, agreed Wednesday to pay up to $17 billion to end a lawsuit accusing it of harming children and will implement a range of tools and practices designed to lessen the apps’ impact on their mental health.

Meta agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by a coalition of 29 states alleging the company knew about the harms Facebook and Instagram — which Meta acquired in 2012 — could cause and failed to meaningfully police children’s use of the apps while it illegally collected data on them.

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Thomas grew up in San Diego in the late 20th century and later earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Global Studies from CSUMB. He spent five years as a local broadcast journalist on California’s Central...