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How Meta’s $17.1 Billion Social Media Settlement Came Together

29 August 2026 at 07:00
State attorneys general spent months in negotiations. Then, as its legal losses mounted, the social media giant’s new top lawyer brought a huge settlement to the table.

Β© Jason Henry for The New York Times

Meta’s $17.1 billion agreement with states followed losses in court over claims that the social media is addictive and harmful to children.

What Meta’s $17 Billion Settlement Means

Our reporter Cecilia Kang explains Meta’s settlement of a lawsuit claiming that the company’s social media platforms had harmed teenage users.

Instagram Chief Says β€˜No Silver Bullets’ for Teen Safety in Bellwether Trial

25 August 2026 at 18:38
Adam Mosseri testified in a case brought by states that claim the Meta-owned app created addictive features to hook young users.

Β© Karl Mondon/Agence France-Presse β€” Getty Images

Adam Mosseri, the chief executive of Instagram, arriving at federal court in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday.

A County Got Rich From Data Centers. Some Question β€˜At What Cost?’

Loudoun County, Va., hosts more than 250 data centers that bring in huge tax revenues. But some officials and residents worry the county has become too dependent on that cash.

Β© Caroline Gutman for The New York Times

A data center in Ashburn, Va.

OpenAI Introduces β€˜ChatGPT for Teens’ as Safety Concerns Grow

18 August 2026 at 10:14
The artificial intelligence start-up announced a chatbot mode that will automatically limit some conversations to better protect young users.

Β© Ricardo Nagaoka for The New York Times

A workshop about artificial intelligence at Walla Walla High School in Washington in 2023. ChatGPT will turn on its teen mode if it detects signals that the user is younger than 18, OpenAI said.

Meta to Stand Trial Over Claims It Addicted Children to Social Media

19 August 2026 at 00:58
California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey have taken the social media giant to trial in the first bellwether federal case over child harm.

Β© Jason Henry for The New York Times

During the trial, to be held in the U.S. District Court of Oakland, Calif., four states are expected to argue that Meta violated federal child privacy and state consumer protection laws.
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