26 AUG 2026.
Meta has agreed to a sweeping $17 billion settlement with 49 states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to keep children and teenagers hooked while exposing them to harmful content. According to The U.S. Sun, the deal abruptly ended a California trial that had been expected to continue into October and spared CEO Mark Zuckerberg from taking the witness stand. (The US Sun)
The settlement goes far beyond money. Meta will impose a two-hour daily limit on younger users and block teens from using Facebook and Instagram between midnight and 6 a.m. Notifications will be shut off during school hours, “like” counts on posts by minors will be hidden and cosmetic-surgery filters will be prohibited. Users will also be offered the option of a non-personalized feed that is not driven by algorithmic recommendations. (The US Sun)
The states accused Meta of knowingly using addictive design features, misleading the public about the risks those features posed to young people and improperly collecting data from children under 13. During the trial, Meta engineering director Arturo Bjar reportedly testified that the company repeatedly prioritized profits over safety. Meta disputed the broader accusations and maintained that protecting young users was imperative. (The US Sun)
The $17 billion will be distributed to the participating states over ten years. Although enormous in absolute terms, the article notes that it represents only a fraction of Meta’s reported $201 billion in 2025 revenue.
The larger significance is the structural change. This is not merely another technology company writing a check and moving on. If implemented as described, the settlement directly attacks the mechanics critics say make social media compulsive for children: endless algorithmic feeds, constant notifications, social validation metrics and unrestricted nighttime access. It could become a template for how regulators force major platforms to redesign products around child safety rather than engagement.
Kids face limits & night-time blocks on Instagram as Meta agrees $17bn payout
META will pay out a whopping $17 billion in a landmark trial that will see the social media giant impose stricter limits on kids using its platforms. A bombshell lawsuit accused Meta-owned sites In…
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Roberto Carlos and Caetano Veloso bring extraordinary elegance to “Wave,” one of Antônio Carlos Jobim’s most beautiful compositions. Their voices approach the song differently yet blend with remarkable ease, creating a performance that feels intimate, sophisticated and unmistakably Brazilian. The arrangement is restrained and graceful, allowing the melody and poetry to breathe. It is a lovely meeting of two giants, honoring Jobim with warmth, subtlety and timeless musical intelligence throughout.
Roberto Carlos, Caetano Veloso – Wave (Ao vivo)
Vídeo Oficial de “Wave” do álbum “Roberto Carlos e Caetano Veloso e a música de Tom Jobim (Ao Vivo)” do Roberto Carlos com participação do Caetano Veloso.
