What smart people are saying about Meta’s settlement

• Meta settled a teen social media addiction lawsuit with states for about $18 billion.
• Some experts called the deal shrewd, saying Meta avoided potentially massive damages.
• Critics say the deal is too weak and its teen protections could prove difficult to enforce.

“Enforcement is going to be really difficult,” she said. “A motivated, 16-year-old and 18-year-old will just adopt a VPN, log in from their parents’ accounts or whatever.”

Jonathan Turley, professor at George Washington University Law School

Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University Law School, said Meta’s monetary payout was a big lowball.

“The $16 billion is a bit like monopoly money,” Turley wrote on X. “Meta succeeded in tying off the potential for massive damages while making changes that was already moving to incorporate in its platform.”

Turley added that although the settlement will lead to new protections for children on social media, they will ultimately not last.

“The technology is too popular and too accessible to create a true firewall,” Turley wrote. “The burden will remain with parents.”

Jason Kint, CEO of Digital Content Next

Jason Kint, who leads Digital Content Next, a trade organization that represents digital media companies, said the case impacts an entire generation of children.

“Wow. $16 BILLION means Meta/Facebook/Instagram is now approaching $25 BILLION they’ve on settlements related to consumer protection abuses,” he wrote on X on Wednesday.

Gary Marcus, tech researcher and writer

Marcus, a tech researcher, wrote on X that he hopes other social media platforms will follow suit with guardrails.

“I hope that X, TikTok, and YouTube will match these social media restrictions for teens, including ‘Productive Pauses,’ ‘Nighttime blocks,’ limited school-time access for children, tighter content controls, stronger and more straightforward parental controls, and limits on things like beauty filters and visible likes,” he wrote on Wednesday.

He added, “Adults (me included!) would be wise to opt-in for a lot of the same.”