What Will Arkansas Get from the Settlement with Meta?

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Last week, social media giant Meta agreed to a $17.1 billion settlement with dozens of state attorneys general over a slate of consumer protection lawsuits. As part of the agreement, Meta must add a host of safety features to protect teens on Facebook and Instagram.

The proposed Settlement Agreement is still waiting for final court approval. If approved, Attorney General Tim Griffin says Arkansas would receive more than $172.4 million.

But when will Arkansas receive its share of the settlement and where will the money go? Here is what the proposed Settlement Agreement says:

Meta would pay the settlement money directly to the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office. The agreement’s payment language says “For the State of Arkansas, payments . . . shall be made directly to the Office of the Arkansas Attorney General.”

The settlement says the State of Arkansas may use the settlement money “for any lawful purpose.”

Settlement money in consumer protection cases often funds initiatives to address the harm that prompted the lawsuit in the first place.

For example, Arkansas uses tobacco settlement money to fund the State’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program and other public health initiatives.

Arkansas uses money from an opioid settlement to address the opioid crisis.

Attorney General Griffin’s office has said the settlement funds from the lawsuit against Meta “will be spent consistent with the agreement, including on mental health and keeping our kids safe.”

Settlement payments to Arkansas would be made annually over the next ten years and could be nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.

At a minimum, Arkansas would receive $17,245,993.63 from Meta within 30 days after the settlement takes effect.

Assuming the settlement takes effect this year, Arkansas would then receive another $17,245,993.63 every January 15 until 2035.

That means over the next 10 years, Arkansas would receive a minimum $172,459,936, but Meta could be forced to pay more if certain “contingencies” in the settlement are met.

For example, if Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube become subject to teen age-verification and usage requirements that are substantially similar to Meta’s — and if certain other conditions are met — Meta would pay Arkansas another $7.4 million per year.

Several lawsuits are currently in play against TikTok and other social media platforms that could force them to adopt youth-safety and usage restrictions that are similar to Meta’s.

Between minimum payments and the other contingencies in the Settlement Agreement, Arkansas could receive close to $250 million from Meta over the next decade.

Tech platforms like Meta are multibillion-dollar corporations. The men and women who profit from these businesses have a responsibility to protect their users — especially teenagers.

Children deserve proactive protection online. If tech companies won’t give children that protection, then it’s up to voters and elected officials to make sure they get it.

Family Council appreciates Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin for going to court to protect kids online.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Facebook Owner Faces Avalanche of Lawsuits for Allegedly Harming Kids

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A federal trial got underway last week in Oakland, California, over claims that social media platforms harmed children’s mental health and illegally tracked kids under 13.

The U.S. Surgeon General says 95% of American teenagers use social media, and about one-third use it “almost constantly.” But federal lawsuits have raised concerns about the harm that Big Tech can do to kids.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that jury selection began last Wednesday in a landmark case against social media giant Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

The lawsuit claims Meta routinely collected data on children under 13 without parental consent, in violation of federal law. It also alleges the company knowingly designed its platforms to addict young users and hid what it knew about the harm its platforms caused.

Opening statements are set for this week. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are both expected to testify.

The trial is part of an avalanche of lawsuits Meta currently faces in state and federal court.

In 2023, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued Meta in state court for endangering children. In the lawsuit, his office alleged that platforms like Facebook and Instagram are built around algorithms intentionally designed “to exploit human psychology and foster addiction to maximize users’ screen time.” The A.G. says this exploitation is especially harmful for young users with developing brains. The lawsuit is still ongoing.

Time and again, we have seen examples of just how harmful tech platforms can be — especially for children.

Courts in New Mexico and California have already found Meta liable for harming children on its platforms.

Social media giant TikTok has found itself embroiled in controversies over its failure to protect private user data from entities in China — including the Chinese Communist Party. The platform also has been accused of serving users a steady “diet of darkness” and violating laws intended to protect children online.

Late last year, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach sent a strongly worded letter to major AI developers, calling for real safeguards that protect kids. In a statement, Kobach highlighted a Topeka case in which a sexual predator used AI to create thousands of images depicting child abuse.

It’s worth pointing out that adults and teens are beginning to understand that users need protection on social media and other tech platforms.

A recent survey from the Pew Research Center revealed most adults support banning children under 16 from using social media altogether, and polling shows most teens worry that someone could use AI to generate inappropriate images of them.

Tech platforms are multibillion-dollar businesses that profit from users’ attention and emotions. The adults who own and profit from these businesses have a responsibility to protect their users — especially teenagers.

Children deserve proactive protection online. The Arkansas Legislature and Arkansas Attorney General’s office have worked hard to give children that kind of protection. Our federal courts need to do their part as well.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Most Americans Want to Keep Kids Off Social Media

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A recent survey from the Pew Research Center shows most Americans support banning children under 16 from using social media.

Between Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, most teens and young adults are on some form of social media. The U.S. Surgeon General says 95% of American teenagers use social media, and about one-third say they use it “almost constantly.” But parents, policymakers, and pundits have raised concerns about the harm that social media can cause to kids.

According the survey Pew conducted, 56% of U.S. adults support a ban on social media use for anyone under 16. Only 21% oppose it. Pew found support for the ban is bipartisan and is strong across every major age group. Among parents with children under 18, with 65% support keeping kids off social media.

Besides banning social media for children under 16, adults support other restrictions on social media platforms. Eighty-five percent support requiring parental consent before a child can create a social media account. Seventy-eight percent support age verification requirements for social media platforms. Another 78% support setting time limits on how long minors can use these platforms. All of these figures are up from past surveys — which shows more and more Americans believe social media platforms need guardrails when it comes to children.

A growing body of evidence shows that — by design — social media platforms are not appropriate for children.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has filed a lawsuit accusing Facebook and Instagram of using algorithms intentionally designed “to exploit human psychology and foster addiction to maximize users’ screen time.” TikTok has been accused of serving kids a steady “diet of darkness” online. Courts in New Mexico and California have already found Meta liable for harming children on its platforms.

Social media is more than just websites or phone apps. These are multibillion dollar businesses with tremendous influence. The adults who own and profit from these businesses have a responsibility to protect children on their platforms.

Arkansas has been ahead of the curve on this issue. The Arkansas Legislature passed laws designed to protect children online, and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has sued Meta and TikTok in state court. In fact, Family Council is not aware of any attorney general in America who is doing more to hold social media giants accountable and protect children online than Attorney General Griffin. But more needs to be done.

Pew’s survey confirms that adults understand these platforms are not safe for kids and support stronger protections for children online. Policymakers need to be sure those protections are put in place.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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