Montana Secures $89M+ in Massive Meta Lawsuit

Social media can be a really great tool for getting a message out. But as we all know, it can also be detrimental to our mental health, spread misinformation, and so much more.

Thanks to a recent court ruling, one of the main parties involved, Meta, will have to face some serious financial responsibility for those negative effects their platform has on children.

Meta's Big Settlement

According to multiple reports, Meta is said to be forking out nearly $18 billion in a multisate settlement after it was determined their platforms were, in fact, harmful to children.

In addition to the huge pile of cash they'll be dishing out, Meta will also be required to make changes on that platform that include parental controls, time restrictions, etc.

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As for where all that money goes, Montana is expected to receive some of it... but how much?

Montana's Share of the Meta Settlement

When you consider the settlement amount is nearly (or around depending on which report you look at) $18 billion, the guaranteed amount for Montana doesn't sound like that much.

According to the Montana Department of Justice, Montana will be receiving a guaranteed $89 million with the potential to receive $127 million.

"This settlement agreement is the culmination of years of hard work to hold Meta accountable for their dangerous and deceptive practices that put the health and well-being of Montana kids at risk," Attorney General Knudsen said. "I’m glad Meta has taken responsibility and I hope other social media companies will follow suit."

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"This settlement money will be put to good use to improve safety and mental health resources for kids and teens in the state. As Attorney General, I will continue to protect the safety and rights of all Montanans.”

Montana's Legal History with Meta

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen filed a lawsuit against Meta back in 2021 according to the Montana Department of Justice.

"Meta must be held accountable for its deceptive practices and the harm it has caused," the Montana AG said at the time.

"Instagram’s intentional addictive design and its failure to address the rampant presence of harmful content on its platform, including explicit drug promotion and sexual exploitation, pose serious risks to the mental health and well-being of young Montanans."

Hey, you gotta give it to him: he called it.

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"Internal documents leaked to the public show that Meta was aware of the harms it inflicted on minors, but instead of taking corrective action, the company continued to tell the parents it was a safe product for their kids to use," AG Knudsen said in 2021.

"I am committed to safeguarding the rights and protection of Montanans: social media companies must comply with our state laws and prioritize the safety and privacy of our citizens."

How Will Montana Use the Meta Settlement Money?

The Montana DOJ says "at least half of the money must go to remediate harms caused by social media." That includes crisis intervention services, after school programs, and several other programs designed to care for and maintain youth mental health.

You can learn more about the announcement HERE.