Meta Settlement 2026: Who Gets Paid
No claim form · paid to the states
Court-approved August 26, 2026 · next state installment January 15, 2027
Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion to 51 states and territories over ten years. Families cannot file for any of it, and about 30% depends on Snap, TikTok and YouTube.
Can You Get Money From the Meta Settlement?
No, not from this settlement. The Meta settlement pays state governments, not people. There is no claim form, no fund for parents or teens, and nothing to sign up for. Each state’s share goes where the agreement and the state direct, often to youth mental health programs. Anyone offering to help you “claim your Meta settlement payment” is not connected to it.
A Meta-related claim you may still be able to file
File by Oct 15 · 3 days left
Flo period-tracker app settlement
Fund: $59.5 million from Google, Flo Health and Flurry
File at periodtrackerdataprivacylitigation.comOur explainerWho qualifies
U.S. users who entered menstruation or pregnancy information in the Flo app between November 1, 2016 and February 28, 2019. Meta did not settle this case; a jury found it liable in August 2025, and a judgment against it is still being decided.
Open claim windows in related privacy and data-breach settlements
- WPM Pathology Data Breachclaim by October 19, 2026
- Doxim Settlement$5.5M · claim by October 13, 2026
- iPhone Lawsuit$250 million · claim by December 21, 2026
We are not a claims administrator. File only on the official settlement website, never through a link in a text message or social media post.
Other Meta cases people confuse with this one
- Facebook $725 million privacy settlementA separate class action. Claims closed in 2023; a second round of payments was approved in May 2026.
- Social media addiction lawsuitsCases by families and school districts against Meta continue. This settlement does not end them.
- Every Meta lawsuit in one placeVerdicts, privacy cases and the state settlement, case by case.
How Much Does Each State Get From the Meta Settlement?
The signed agreement gives each of the 51 participating states and territories a fixed amount, paid in ten installments. The figure on the right is the most a state can receive in those installments, with the guaranteed part below it. 48 of them also get a one-time Cambridge Analytica payment, shown under their name.
- Californiaup to $2.20 billion$1.54 billion guaranteed over ten years
- New Yorkup to $1.13 billion$789.5 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $29.9 million for Cambridge Analytica - Illinoisup to $768.0 million$536.7 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $23.7 million for Cambridge Analytica - New Jerseyup to $752.2 million$525.6 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $20.3 million for Cambridge Analytica - Tennesseeup to $739.5 million$516.7 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $12.5 million for Cambridge Analytica - Pennsylvaniaup to $705.2 million$492.8 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $23.8 million for Cambridge Analytica - North Carolinaup to $646.4 million$451.7 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $15.7 million for Cambridge Analytica - Coloradoup to $614.8 million$429.6 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $11.5 million for Cambridge Analytica - Kentuckyup to $512.5 million$358.2 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $7.5 million for Cambridge Analytica - Virginiaup to $506.2 million$353.8 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $11.1 million for Cambridge Analytica
All 51 states and territories, A–Z
- Alabamaup to $167.9 million$117.3 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $10.8 million for Cambridge Analytica - Alaskaup to $23.8 million$16.7 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $4.1 million for Cambridge Analytica - American Samoaup to $1.6 million$1.1 million guaranteed over ten years
- Arizonaup to $301.3 million$210.5 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $12.8 million for Cambridge Analytica - Arkansasup to $246.8 million$172.5 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $6.1 million for Cambridge Analytica - Californiaup to $2.20 billion$1.54 billion guaranteed over ten years
- Coloradoup to $614.8 million$429.6 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $11.5 million for Cambridge Analytica - Connecticutup to $250.7 million$175.2 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $15.4 million for Cambridge Analytica - Delawareup to $99.3 million$69.4 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $4.3 million for Cambridge Analytica - District of Columbiaup to $129.4 million$90.4 million guaranteed over ten years
- Georgiaup to $137.1 million$95.8 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $12.9 million for Cambridge Analytica - Hawaiiup to $76.1 million$53.1 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $4.7 million for Cambridge Analytica - Idahoup to $122.4 million$85.5 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $5.0 million for Cambridge Analytica - Illinoisup to $768.0 million$536.7 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $23.7 million for Cambridge Analytica - Indianaup to $410.0 million$286.5 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $9.5 million for Cambridge Analytica - Iowaup to $181.0 million$126.5 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $9.2 million for Cambridge Analytica - Kansasup to $192.3 million$134.4 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $6.0 million for Cambridge Analytica - Kentuckyup to $512.5 million$358.2 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $7.5 million for Cambridge Analytica - Louisianaup to $247.9 million$173.3 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $7.6 million for Cambridge Analytica - Maineup to $75.4 million$52.7 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $4.6 million for Cambridge Analytica - Marylandup to $327.8 million$229.1 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $11.8 million for Cambridge Analytica - Massachusettsup to $498.1 million$348.1 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $18.4 million for Cambridge Analytica - Michiganup to $245.6 million$171.6 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $15.4 million for Cambridge Analytica - Minnesotaup to $306.7 million$214.3 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $8.5 million for Cambridge Analytica - Mississippiup to $270.4 million$189.0 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $6.1 million for Cambridge Analytica - Missouriup to $152.1 million$106.3 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $9.0 million for Cambridge Analytica - Montanaup to $127.3 million$89.0 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $4.4 million for Cambridge Analytica - N. Mariana Islandsup to $1.5 million$1.1 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $1.7 million for Cambridge Analytica - Nebraskaup to $201.1 million$140.5 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $5.1 million for Cambridge Analytica - Nevadaup to $254.9 million$178.1 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $6.1 million for Cambridge Analytica - New Hampshireup to $219.7 million$153.5 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $4.6 million for Cambridge Analytica - New Jerseyup to $752.2 million$525.6 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $20.3 million for Cambridge Analytica - New Yorkup to $1.13 billion$789.5 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $29.9 million for Cambridge Analytica - North Carolinaup to $646.4 million$451.7 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $15.7 million for Cambridge Analytica - North Dakotaup to $19.4 million$13.5 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $4.1 million for Cambridge Analytica - Ohioup to $456.8 million$319.2 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $16.9 million for Cambridge Analytica - Oklahomaup to $327.1 million$228.6 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $7.0 million for Cambridge Analytica - Oregonup to $179.4 million$125.4 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $10.1 million for Cambridge Analytica - Pennsylvaniaup to $705.2 million$492.8 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $23.8 million for Cambridge Analytica - Puerto Ricoup to $178.4 million$124.7 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $6.3 million for Cambridge Analytica - Rhode Islandup to $64.5 million$45.1 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $4.4 million for Cambridge Analytica - South Carolinaup to $342.0 million$239.0 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $8.0 million for Cambridge Analytica - South Dakotaup to $69.3 million$48.4 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $4.2 million for Cambridge Analytica - Tennesseeup to $739.5 million$516.7 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $12.5 million for Cambridge Analytica - Utahup to $295.0 million$206.2 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $6.3 million for Cambridge Analytica - Vermontup to $127.0 million$88.7 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $4.0 million for Cambridge Analytica - Virginiaup to $506.2 million$353.8 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $11.1 million for Cambridge Analytica - Washingtonup to $338.9 million$236.8 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $10.2 million for Cambridge Analytica - West Virginiaup to $109.6 million$76.6 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $5.0 million for Cambridge Analytica - Wisconsinup to $313.6 million$219.2 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $8.7 million for Cambridge Analytica - Wyomingup to $19.0 million$13.3 million guaranteed over ten years
plus $3.9 million for Cambridge Analytica
Why Texas and Florida Are Not on the List
Texas, Florida, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands are listed as eligible in the agreement but have no amount in its payment table. Texas announced its own deal with Meta the same day, August 26, 2026, worth more than $1 billion; it is separate from this table. Florida declined to join and is pursuing its own lawsuit against Meta in a Pasco County court, where it asked for a temporary injunction on October 7, 2026. The U.S. Virgin Islands says its own claims against Meta are still pending in its Superior Court. We found no statement from Guam.
The agreement lets an eligible state or territory join later; its amount would then be added to the payment table. New Mexico is not part of the settlement at all: it brought its own cases against Meta.
What Will Your State Do With the Money?
That depends on the state. A schedule in the agreement (Exhibit C) sets out, state by state, where the payments go. New York’s share can be used “for any lawful purpose.” Most of California’s share is earmarked for preventing or remedying mental health and other harms to young Californians associated with social media; fixed sums from the first payments go to the Attorney General’s enforcement funds and the state’s General Fund. Tennessee’s net recovery, after fees and costs, goes into its new Children’s Digital Protection Fund, and Rhode Island’s funds youth mental health programming. In North Carolina, the Attorney General’s office says the General Assembly will decide by law how the money is used.
How the 51 amounts were set is not public. The agreement says the negotiations “are intended to be confidential.”
Where the $17.1 Billion Figure Comes From
Reports say $16.7 billion, $17.1 billion or $18 billion. The signed agreement explains the difference.
- $11.66Bguaranteed in the ten installments
- $5.02Bpaid only if Snap, TikTok and YouTube follow suit
- $459Mone-time payment for the Cambridge Analytica claims
The payment table adds up to $16.68 billion over ten installments, the “$16.7 billion” in some reports. A second table adds $459.3 million for the states’ older Cambridge Analytica privacy claims, paid once to 48 states and territories. Together that is $17.14 billion, the “up to $17.1 billion” in the attorneys general’s announcements. Meta also pays $75 million toward the states’ costs, which is in neither table.
Figures around $18 billion count amounts outside the agreement; Texas’s separate deal alone is worth more than $1 billion. Of the $17.14 billion, $12.12 billion is guaranteed: $11.66 billion in installments plus the one-time Cambridge Analytica payment. Only the $5.02 billion in contingency payments depends on the condition explained below.
When Do the States Get Paid?
Each state gets ten installments: the first about a month after the settlement took effect, then one every January 15 through 2035.
August 26, 2026: Court enters the settlement
Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers entered the consent judgment in federal court in Oakland, California. It took effect the next business day, August 27, 2026. The parties waived any appeal.
Late September 2026: First installment due
The first installment, the one-time Cambridge Analytica payment and $75 million for the states’ costs were due within 30 days after the settlement took effect. North Carolina reported on October 1, 2026 that it had received its first payment, $45,167,732.
January 15, 2027: Second installment
From 2027 on, every installment is due on January 15. A state whose own court judgment is entered later gets its first installment within 30 days after that entry.
January 15, 2035: Tenth and last installment
About 30% of every installment is paid only if the condition explained below is met. If it is met later, the withheld parts are paid on the next installment date.
Why Up to 30% May Never Be Paid
Every installment has a guaranteed part and a contingency part. The contingency parts, $5.02 billion over ten years, are paid to a state only once two things are true in that state. First, all three companies the agreement names as “Core Industry Members,” Snap, TikTok and YouTube, must be bound there to the stricter teen rules the agreement keeps in reserve: one hour a day per app and no access from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. That can happen through a settlement, a law or an independently audited voluntary commitment, and it includes age checks at least as strict as Meta’s. Meta’s own limits then tighten to the same level. Second, each of them with annual profits above $10 billion must owe that state at least as much as its contingency payments, or, in a joint settlement with several states, owe those states together at least as much as their combined contingency payments.
If a state does not reach that point while the agreement runs, its contingency payments “shall be permanently forfeited by such Settling State and retained by Meta.” As of October 12, 2026, we found no report that the condition has been met in any state. On September 23, 2026, YouTube’s chief executive dismissed the idea of joining Meta’s agreement, according to CNN.
What Changes on Instagram and Facebook for Teens
Meta also agreed to change how Instagram and Facebook work for users under 18 in the 51 participating states and territories. Most changes start six months after the settlement took effect, in late February 2027.
A two-hour daily limit by default
Teens are limited to 2 hours a day across Meta’s apps, not counting messaging, long-form content or settings. Only a supervising parent can loosen the limit.
No access from midnight to 6 a.m.
By default, teens cannot use the apps between midnight and 6 a.m., apart from messages and settings, and push notifications are off from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Quiet school hours
Push notifications are off from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays during the school year, except for messages and account security.
Breaks, nudges and a non-personalized feed
Within four months, by late December 2026: pause prompts at 60 and 90 minutes of daily use, a notice after 15 minutes of continuous use, and the option of a feed that is not personalized.
Hidden likes, no cosmetic filters, age checks
Like counts are hidden by default, and filters that imitate cosmetic procedures are blocked. Within a year, by late August 2027, Meta must check users’ ages under a new age assurance framework.
Meta Settlement: Questions People Ask
Short answers, each based on the signed agreement or official announcements.
Is there a Meta settlement claim form?
No. The settlement between Meta and the states has no claim form and pays nothing to individuals. The money goes to 51 state and territorial governments over ten years. If a website or message asks you to file a claim or pay a fee for a “Meta settlement payment,” it is not connected to this settlement.
Who gets paid in the Meta settlement?
State governments. Each of the 51 participating states and territories receives a fixed amount in ten installments, and 48 of them also receive a one-time payment for older Cambridge Analytica claims. Each state decides how to use its share, within the rules in the agreement; many direct it to youth mental health programs.
How much does my state get from the Meta settlement?
In the ten installments, amounts range from up to $2.20 billion for California and up to $1.13 billion for New York to up to $1.5 million for the Northern Mariana Islands. About 70% of each amount is guaranteed; the rest depends on Snap, TikTok and YouTube. 48 states and territories, New York among them, also receive a one-time Cambridge Analytica payment on top. Every state and territory is in the table above.
Is this the same as the Facebook $725 million settlement?
No. The $725 million Facebook settlement was a class action over the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, and its claim deadline passed in 2023. The state settlement also includes a Cambridge Analytica payment, but that money goes to state governments, not to people who filed in the class action. Payments from the class action are covered on our Facebook privacy settlement page.
Why are Texas and Florida not in the Meta settlement?
Texas made its own deal with Meta on August 26, 2026, worth more than $1 billion. Florida declined to join and is suing Meta on its own. Both are listed as eligible in the agreement, so either could still join; its amount would then be added to the payment table.
When will the states receive the money?
The first installment was due about a month after the settlement took effect on August 27, 2026; North Carolina reported receiving its first payment on October 1, 2026. The remaining nine installments are due every January 15 from 2027 through 2035.
Does the Meta settlement end the social media addiction lawsuits?
No. It resolves the states’ claims only. Lawsuits by families and school districts against Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube continue: 3,824 cases were pending in the federal litigation (MDL 3047) in early October 2026, according to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. See our social media addiction lawsuit page.
Did Meta admit wrongdoing?
No. Meta denies the allegations, and the agreement states that it is not an admission of any liability or wrongdoing. It is also not a court finding that Meta broke the law.
Why do reports say $16.7 billion, $17.1 billion and $18 billion?
They count different parts. The payment table totals $16.68 billion; adding the one-time $459.3 million for the Cambridge Analytica claims gives the $17.14 billion behind “up to $17.1 billion.” Figures around $18 billion also count amounts outside the agreement; Texas’s separate deal alone is worth more than $1 billion. Of that, $12.12 billion is guaranteed ($11.66 billion in installments plus the Cambridge Analytica payment); $5.02 billion is contingent.
Meta Settlement Scams to Watch For
Because there is no claim form, every offer to file one is a warning sign.
Messages offering your “Meta settlement payment”
There is no payment to individuals. A text, email or post that offers your share, or asks for a fee, your Social Security number or a bank login to release it, is a scam. Do not click the link.
Fake Meta or Instagram support about your “eligibility”
Users are not part of this settlement, so there is nothing to verify. Accounts posing as Meta support that ask you to confirm your account or eligibility are phishing.
Sites that charge a fee to file
There is nothing to file for this settlement, and no legitimate claim site charges a fee. The agreement itself is published by the state attorneys general.
Ads that say the Meta settlement pays families
It does not. Some ads use the headlines to collect contact details. If your child was harmed, individual lawsuits are a separate path, explained on our social media addiction lawsuit page.
How the States’ Case Against Meta Got Here
In 2023, state attorneys general sued Meta, alleging that Instagram and Facebook used addictive features to attract and keep young users and that Meta misled the public about the risks. Their joint federal case was part of the social media addiction litigation (MDL 3047) before Chief Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. It went to trial in August 2026; about a week in, on August 26, 2026, the case settled without a verdict. Meta denies the allegations, and the agreement says it is not an admission of wrongdoing.
What the settlement does not cover
The agreement reaches further than the federal case: it covers 51 states and territories, each with its own amount in the payment table. It does not create a right for individuals to sue, and it does not resolve claims by families or school districts.
Not covered: New Mexico’s separate cases against Meta, Florida’s lawsuit, the U.S. Virgin Islands’ claims, and the thousands of lawsuits by families and school districts. Where each stands is on our Meta lawsuit overview.
Sources and Method
Amounts, dates and rules on this page come from the signed agreement: the consent judgment with the fully executed settlement agreement, Case No. 4:23-cv-05448-YGR (N.D. Cal.), Doc. 572-1, filed August 26, 2026 and published by the California Attorney General, entered as Docket No. 3451 in MDL 3047. Status updates come from the attorneys general of North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands, from CNN’s report of September 23, 2026, from the official Facebook privacy settlement website and from the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation’s case statistics.
We extracted the payment table (Exhibit B) from the filed PDF twice, on August 31 and October 12, 2026; both extractions match to the cent, and the installment columns add up exactly to the totals printed in the document. Amounts on this page are rounded; our data report lists every state to the cent.
- Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology. Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor.
- $236 billion in real payouts analyzed · See what we found
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Our reporting on the signed agreement, the state-by-state table and what changed since.
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