Meta Platforms has agreed to limit users under 18 to two hours of daily online time under a California settlement that still requires court approval. The company will pay $18 billion over 10 years for a youth online safety initiative, including $12.7 billion to states and a further $5.3 billion subject to specified conditions. Meta will implement youth-protection measures on Instagram and Facebook for 10 years and expects to record a $10 billion legal expense in the third quarter of 2026. The agreement revises the earlier litigation outlook, which had anticipated a six- to eight-week federal trial and possible penalties of up to $1.4 trillion. Meta previously recorded a $2.4 billion second-quarter legal charge and warned that ongoing legal matters could have a significant financial impact.