Parents who have lost children to harms linked to social media are questioning a recent $18 billion settlement reached between Meta Platforms and 29 U.S. states. They argue the agreement, finalized just before potentially damaging internal evidence could be revealed in court, has "robbed" them of seeing crucial information about the company's awareness of its products' negative impacts on young users.

The lawsuit, which began in Oakland, California, accused Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, of designing its products in ways that led to child addiction, exposure to drug dealers, cyberbullying, extortion, and abuse. The states sought up to $200 billion in fines and significant changes to Meta's business practices and product designs.

While the $18 billion settlement and agreement to enhance protections for young users have been described as historic, some parents feel justice has been undermined. "What evidence did they not want to get out?" asked Erin Popolo, whose 16-year-old daughter died by suicide after experiencing cyberbullying on Instagram. She believes the settlement prevented the public from seeing internal documents that allegedly showed Meta executives were aware of security flaws and harmful design elements within their platforms.

Mary Rodee, whose son died by suicide following online extortion, echoed these sentiments, stating that the settlement's terms would not have protected her child. "We were robbed of seeing the evidence," Rodee told Al Jazeera. She expressed concern that the settlement does not mandate transparency in Meta's algorithms or restrict advertising targeted at minors, key issues she believes contribute to the harm experienced by young people.

Meta's settlement was reached before CEO Mark Zuckerberg could be called to testify. The trial, which commenced on August 18, was anticipated to last six weeks and was expected to delve into internal company documents. These documents reportedly included evidence of Meta's knowledge regarding the addictive nature of its platforms and the potential harms they posed to children.

Instagram's CEO, Adam Mosseri, had testified earlier in the proceedings, detailing new features introduced in 2024, such as a pop-up encouraging teens to take breaks from scrolling and a "quiet mode" for notifications. However, parents like Popolo and Rodee argue these measures are insufficient and do not address the core issues of algorithmic manipulation and targeted advertising that they believe are central to the problem.

Popolo's daughter, Emily, had joined Facebook and Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking connection, but instead became a target for cyberbullying. Despite reporting the abuse, the harassment continued, contributing to her deteriorating mental health. The parents' ongoing advocacy highlights a broader societal concern about the impact of social media on adolescent well-being and the accountability of technology companies.

As the legal proceedings shift focus following the settlement, the parents' calls for greater transparency and accountability persist. They hope that future legal actions and regulatory scrutiny will compel social media companies to implement more meaningful changes to protect vulnerable young users from the documented harms associated with their platforms.