Meta’s $18 Billion Child Safety Agreement Relies on Flawed Age-Verification Technology

Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement linked to a lawsuit filed by 29 U.S. states focusing on the safety of children on its platforms. This unprecedented settlement sees Meta collaborating with 52 state attorneys general to enforce extensive changes regarding how minors utilize Instagram and Facebook.

Jessica Nall, a technology lawyer at Withers, stated that the settlement meets the demands of the attorneys general, providing a political narrative that benefits the public through the resultant platform changes. However, she pointed out that the actual financial impact of the settlement may be less significant than the figure suggests. The settlement, stretching over a decade, diminishes its immediate financial burden, especially given Meta’s substantial yearly earnings. “These tech corporations usually generate revenue exceeding the GDP of many European nations,” Nall explained.

To put it in perspective, Meta’s total revenue in 2025 surpassed $200 billion, making the $18 billion settlement seem minor. The real focus is on the comprehensive child-safety regulations that Meta must now establish, relying on age-verification technology that has yet to prove fully effective.

Meta has not acknowledged any wrongdoing despite settling accusations of intentionally designing its services to attract young users—an approach common among firms wishing to avoid trial risks. A loss in court could have threatened existing legal protections that shield social media platforms from liability regarding user-generated content.

“It makes sense for them to settle, particularly without a legal judgment about First Amendment rights or Section 230 protections, which remain relevant,” Nall noted. “This could pose significant implications not only for Meta but for nearly all tech companies that interact with users.”

The settlement also rekindles debates about age-verification practices meant to safeguard children online, which might inadvertently heighten privacy issues for both youths and adults.

Dr. Alexis Ingber, a communications professor at Syracuse University, remarked that the priority between safety and privacy remains contentious. She explained that ensuring child safety on Meta’s platforms necessitates design changes that might infringe on data privacy, introducing new concerns.

Under the settlement, Meta plans to implement design modifications, including a default screen-time limit of two hours daily per app, as well as reminders every 15 minutes to promote thoughtful usage. Accounts identified as belonging to minors will be automatically restricted from accessing Meta apps overnight (from midnight to 6 a.m.) and will have notifications muted during school hours (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Additionally, teens will not see “like” counts on their posts or those of others by default, among other initiatives.

“While the proposed design changes look promising, their success hinges on effective and impartial age-verification technology,” Dr. Ingber noted. “It’s vital to accurately differentiate children from adults, but the current methods are often inadequate. I’m intrigued to see how Meta plans to proceed, particularly as many of these technologies have been unsuccessful so far.”

The evolution of age-verification technology has progressed beyond simple affirmative clicks, now often including biometric scans (such as selfies), government ID checks, or behavioral assessments. However, each method has its shortcomings. Behavioral analysis may misidentify adults as minors or the opposite, while ID and biometric checks require both minors and adults to provide sensitive documents to third parties to access an app.

User trust in platforms to handle age verification appropriately remains a concern. Discord faced significant pushback after it attempted to implement global age verification earlier this year, causing delays in the rollout.

Not all experts view the situation pessimistically. Philip Yannella, co-chair of the privacy and data security group at Blank Rome law firm, expressed optimism about advancements in technology over recent years. “I believe there are viable ways for companies to implement age assurance technologies,” he stated. “While potential privacy issues will persist, they can be significantly reduced.”

Yannella further explained that companies need not retain users’ personal data to verify age. “There are methods to confirm someone’s age and create a token signaling their age group without retaining personal information,” he added.

Experts like Ingber caution that even with the best intentions, transmitting sensitive identity data online carries inherent privacy risks. A breach involving identity scans or biometric data tied to children poses serious risks, given that information like fingerprints or facial recognition cannot be changed like a password.

As Meta collaborates with the 52 state attorneys general to finalize these regulations—which the company will implement over the next 10 years—it positions the settlement as a statement of its leadership in ensuring children’s online safety. Meta has also begun running newspaper ads urging competitors like TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar changes, without acknowledging that its own policies arose from a legal settlement. Approximately 30% of the settlement payment depends on whether these platforms comply with the new guidelines.

While Ingber expresses concern about the feasibility of Meta and other companies meeting their commitments without resorting to insecure verification strategies, she acknowledges the settlement signifies a broader cultural shift.

“Meta wields substantial influence in shaping norms through its platform design,” she noted. “Modifying platform design can set new standards and improve conditions.”