How Metaβs $17.1 Billion Social Media Settlement Came Together NYT: Technology By: Cecilia Kang and Eli Tan 29 August 2026 at 07:00 State attorneys general spent months in negotiations. Then, as its legal losses mounted, the social media giantβs new top lawyer brought a huge settlement to the table. Β© Jason Henry for The New York TimesMetaβs $17.1 billion agreement with states followed losses in court over claims that the social media is addictive and harmful to children.