North Carolina Received First $45 Million From Meta
The state has secured an initial payment as part of a national settlement over child safety on social media.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Internet
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North Carolina has received an initial $45 million payment from Meta as part of a multistate legal settlement regarding child safety on Instagram and Facebook. The state is guaranteed a total of at least $451 million from the agreement involving 47 states.
Why it matters
The settlement addresses claims that Meta failed to protect children and teens from harm on its platforms. As part of the resolution, the company must now implement stricter safety protocols, including age verification and usage limits.
The settlement requires Meta to disable push notifications during school hours and implement platform curfews for teens. Teens will also face mandatory usage pauses every 15 to 60 minutes, while children under 13 must be removed from the platforms.
The players
Meta
Meta is a global technology conglomerate that owns major social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
North Carolina General Assembly
This is the primary legislative body of the state responsible for determining the budget and allocating public funds.
The details
Meta is required to set teen accounts to private by default and implement nightly curfews to enhance user safety. North Carolina could receive an additional $194 million in funds if industry-wide adoption of these protective measures is achieved by participating states.
Timeline
October 2023: North Carolina joined the federal lawsuit against Meta.
August 2026: The multistate settlement was officially announced.
October 1, 2026: North Carolina received the initial $45 million payment.
The Tech Race
This settlement signals a shift in the ongoing struggle to regulate social media as states move to enforce stricter safety standards for minor users. It effectively forces a transition away from the platform-first growth model toward mandatory, safety-by-design architectures.
Users in North Carolina will see new platform features like mandatory app usage pauses and nighttime curfews for teen accounts. These changes aim to limit screen time and improve digital safety for minors using Facebook and Instagram.
The takeaway
The incoming settlement funds will eventually support state initiatives as determined by legislative action. Parents and teens should prepare for mandated platform changes that prioritize safety over continuous engagement.
Further reading
For additional context on digital regulations, visit Internet.
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