On Wednesday, local time, Meta reached an agreement with attorneys general from various U.S. states and territories, agreeing to pay up to approximately $18 billion to end a federal trial that had entered its second week. The settlement also requires Meta to implement a series of safety restrictions for minors on its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, including a daily usage time limit (default 2 hours), night mode, enhanced age verification, and restrictions on likes and beauty filters. Meta had previously estimated that it could face fines of up to $1.4 trillion if it lost the lawsuit; this settlement eliminates significant potential legal risks.