26-09-2026
Two major social media companies faced legal consequences in the United States over claims that they misled consumers about user safety and privacy. In New Mexico, a jury found Facebook, owned by Meta, liable for violating 43 million state consumer protection laws. The case focused on the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which data from about 87 million Facebook profiles was harvested through a third-party personality quiz and used by the political consulting firm for targeted advertising. Jurors found Facebook had deceived the public about investigations into third parties collecting user data and had made deceptive statements about protecting New Mexico residents’ information. Meta disputed the verdict. New Mexico’s case is the only state action over the Cambridge Analytica privacy breach, after a previous settlement released Meta from future liability related to the scandal. The verdict also follows an August Meta settlement of $18bn in a separate child-safety lawsuit.
Separately, TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, agreed to pay Alabama at least $100m, with the possibility of up to $300m if certain conditions are met. The settlement came days before a scheduled trial and is TikTok’s first settlement with a state. Alabama had alleged that TikTok’s design and algorithm encouraged addictive use and exposed young users to increasingly violent content, contributing to a teen mental health crisis. The state also challenged TikTok’s claims about content safeguards and alleged that it misled the public about Chinese government access to US user data.
Under the settlement, TikTok agreed to introduce a two-hour daily usage limit, a pause after 15 minutes, and improved age checks. At least 27 other states and Washington, DC, have brought similar claims. TikTok has also previously agreed to a $400m settlement with the US Department of Justice over alleged violations of federal children’s privacy laws.
Entities: Facebook, Meta, TikTok, ByteDance, New Mexico • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
26-09-2026
TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have agreed to pay Alabama $100 million and introduce new safety measures for teen users, the state announced shortly before a trial was due to begin. The settlement amount could rise to $300 million if 40 other states make similar agreements with TikTok within a specified period. TikTok said the deal builds on its commitment to improve safety tools, while Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall described it as a significant win for parents and said it would give them more control over children’s app use.
The agreement requires TikTok to introduce a two-hour daily usage limit, additional parental controls, breaks from continuous scrolling, overnight access restrictions for children, and limits on notifications during nighttime and school hours. Other provisions include stronger age verification, reduced discoverability of teen accounts by adults, alerts to parents about suspicious interactions between teens and adults, a ban on cosmetic filters for teens, and non-personalized feeds for teen users.
Alabama had alleged that TikTok’s endless video feed and recommendation algorithm encouraged addiction and directed young users toward violent or self-harm-related material. The state also argued that the platform contributed to a teen mental health crisis and increased emergency room visits. Its lawsuit accused TikTok of misleadingly presenting itself as safe for teens, relying on users to report their own ages, and allowing people to watch videos without signing in—circumstances the state said undermined its Kids Mode and still enabled collection of viewing data.
The settlement resolves all cases against TikTok that had been selected for trial, including claims brought by five young people and a Kentucky school district. TikTok still faces lawsuits from other states, individuals, school districts, and municipalities. Meta Platforms, Snap, and YouTube are also defendants in many related cases. The article notes that Meta recently agreed to a separate settlement with 47 states and territories, with some of its payment conditioned on other platforms adopting similar terms.
Entities: TikTok, ByteDance, Alabama, Steve Marshall, Meta Platforms • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
26-09-2026
Alabama has reached a pre-trial settlement with TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, resolving the state’s claims that the platform endangered children and misled consumers about its safety. Under the agreement, TikTok will pay Alabama at least US$100 million, with the amount potentially rising to US$300 million if 40 other attorneys-general enter similar agreements within a specified timeframe. The company must introduce measures for teenage users in Alabama, including a two-hour daily usage limit, pauses after 15 minutes and stricter age verification.
The settlement was announced shortly before a trial scheduled to begin on September 28 in Montgomery. It is TikTok’s first settlement with a state in widespread litigation over social media’s effects on teen well-being. Alabama Attorney-General Steve Marshall and at least 27 other states, along with Washington DC, have brought similar lawsuits. The trial had been expected to offer unusual public insight into TikTok’s operations.
Alabama’s complaint alleged that TikTok’s video feed and recommendation algorithm can draw young users toward increasingly intense material, including content related to violence and self-harm. It also accused the company of misleading users about its content protections, age checks and the Chinese government’s potential access to US user data. TikTok said teen safety is a priority and argued that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects platforms from liability for user-generated content.
The agreement comes amid thousands of other lawsuits against TikTok and cases involving Meta, Snap and YouTube. A recent US$17.1 billion settlement between Meta and 47 states, Washington DC and US territories included changes to teen access on Instagram and Facebook, with some payment conditions tied to competitors adopting similar measures. Alabama’s agreement could likewise require additional restrictions if rival platforms make comparable changes. Though it applies only in Alabama, implementing major changes on a state-by-state basis could be difficult.
Entities: TikTok, ByteDance, Alabama, Steve Marshall, Montgomery state court • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
26-09-2026
Al Jazeera reports that TikTok has reached a settlement with the US state of Alabama and agreed to pay at least $100 million. The agreement came days before a trial concerning teen addiction was scheduled to begin. The report describes TikTok as the latest major social media company to face legal challenges over concerns about how it handles teenage addiction. The article does not identify the terms beyond the minimum payment, explain how the settlement amount will be used, or provide details about the allegations, evidence, or the parties’ reasoning for settling. It also does not include comments from TikTok, Alabama officials, teenagers, families, or other organizations. As presented, the story is a brief announcement of a significant financial settlement and its timing relative to the planned trial, rather than a detailed account of the case. Its broader point is that legal scrutiny of social media companies over teen addiction concerns is ongoing. No further information about other cases, platform features, or the potential effects of the settlement is included in the supplied article text.
Entities: TikTok, Alabama, United States, teen addiction, teen addiction trial • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
