Meta is holding back $5.3bn unless TikTok and YouTube match its teen rules

Meta has agreed to a massive $18 billion legal settlement regarding teen addiction to Instagram and Facebook in the US. However, the company is withholding approximately $5.3 billion of this total. Meta stipulates that these funds will only be released if TikTok and YouTube adopt identical teen safety rules and provide matching payments. This strategic move aims to force tougher industry-wide regulations on how social media platforms manage younger users to ensure a consistent safety standard.