Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has agreed to pay $16.68 billion to U.S. authorities as part of a settlement over litigation bordering on child safety on its platforms.

The settlement agreement was reached during a California federal trial on Wednesday.

Twenty-nine states in the United States dragged Meta to court, arguing that Facebook and Instagram were designed to get children addicted, mislead consumers about safety and improperly collect the personal data of children who use their social media platforms.

Part of the agreement to resolve the case includes some changes for teenage users of Facebook and Instagram.

Meta will now impose new rules for underage users of its platforms, including daily usage limits, nighttime usage restrictions and mechanisms to bar children from accessing age-restricted content on its platforms.

Meta will also introduce parental controls, age verification and limit access for children during school hours.

Following Wednesday’s settlement, District of Columbia Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, said it was a “monumental public health victory.”

“The safety features Meta is required to install will fundamentally and immediately change how young people use Instagram and Facebook,” Mr Schwalb said.

In a statement after the agreement was reached, Meta said, “Today, we are announcing an agreement with a bipartisan group of 52 attorneys general across U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia, building on our longstanding efforts to empower parents and support teens.”

It added, “The agreement includes a payment of approximately $18 billion, which can be used to fund youth online safety initiatives, among other state priorities.”