Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has reached a settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc., worth more than $1 billion, requiring the company to pay the state and adopt new safety measures to protect children on its platforms.
The agreement directs settlement funds toward youth mental health services, crisis resources, digital literacy programs, after-school initiatives, and grants for Texas schools, according to a press release announced by the attorney general’s office.
“This is a historic settlement and a major win for the safety of Texas children. Not only will Meta pay over $1 billion to Texas, but the company will also implement significant new safety features to better protect children’s precious minds and well-being on its platforms,” Paxton said. “It is my mission to fundamentally change and strengthen the standards for child safety online, and this settlement is a major step forward in the fight to ensure our kids are protected online.”
Under the settlement, Meta must adopt stricter age-assurance measures and cap teen users at two hours of daily use. Notifications will be turned off by default during school hours unless a parent adjusts the setting. Likes and reactions on posts will be hidden by default to reduce social comparison among young users.
The company is also required to launch a nighttime access mode that, by default, limits notifications and certain features for children during specified overnight hours. Meta must continue to restrict age-inappropriate content and support parental supervision tools.
The agreement marks the third settlement above $1 billion that Paxton has obtained from a major technology company. He previously secured a $1.4 billion settlement with Meta over the unlawful collection and use of facial recognition data, and a $1.375 billion settlement with Google tied to violations of Texans’ privacy rights.
Paxton is scheduled to take TikTok to trial in the fall of 2026 as part of his broader effort to address child safety on online platforms.
