Hawaii will receive about $76 million from a $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta Platforms. Attorney General Anne Lopez announced the agreement on Aug. 26, 2026.
A multistate settlement is one deal that resolves similar claims by many states at once. Hawaii joined 47 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa and other territories in the deal, as reported by Aloha State Daily. The Hawaii Governor's Office described it as one of the largest state consumer-protection settlements outside 1990s Big Tobacco, according to the AG announcement.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Hawaii — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official notice from Ny — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- What the states said Meta did
- What must change for teen accounts?
- Can Hawaii families file a claim?
- Where does Hawaii's $76 million go?
What the states said Meta did
The cases focused on Instagram and Facebook features that encouraged compulsive use by children and teens. State investigators said Meta tracked mental-health harms internally while misleading the public about the risks.
The settlement also resolved claims that Meta shared nonpublic Facebook user information with third parties such as Cambridge Analytica before the 2016 election. Those data-sharing claims were separate from the youth-addiction claims but part of the same deal.
What must change for teen accounts?
Meta must add enforceable youth safeguards on Facebook and Instagram. Reuters reported the requirements include a default two-hour daily limit for under-18 accounts, an overnight block from midnight to 6 a.m., and muted school-hours notifications, described in its summary of the safety terms.
The safeguards also include stronger age assurance and expanded parental controls. Parents will have more tools to set limits, review activity, and manage how teens use both apps.
Can Hawaii families file a claim?
No. The money goes to participating state governments, not to families or individual users. There is no family claim form to complete.
- No application is available for parents, teens, or Facebook users
- Hawaii's share goes to the state government
- Meta guaranteed about $12.1-$12.7 billion over 10 years, with the rest up to $17.1 billion conditional and subject to court approval, according to LegalScoops
Where does Hawaii's $76 million go?
Hawaii's payments are payable to the Director of Finance. They are deposited to the Litigation Deposits Trust Account under Hawaii Revised Statutes §28-16.
Funds in that account may be spent for any lawful purpose. State officials have not yet designated the money for a specific youth program, rebate, or individual payout.
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