Kentucky will receive $358 million as part of a proposed $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, according to an announcement by the Kentucky Attorney General. The agreement, if approved by a federal judge, represents what state officials are calling the largest Big Tech settlement in U.S. history.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced the landmark agreement on August 26, leading negotiations alongside California, Colorado, and New Jersey. The settlement comes just one week into a federal trial in Oakland, California, that had been expected to last six to eight weeks. Tennessee pursued separate state litigation against the company.

The settlement resolves claims that Meta designed Instagram and Facebook with addictive features, knowingly exposed younger users to potential harms, and misled the public about the safety of its platforms. Coleman said the protections for children delivered through the agreement represent a "generational change that will make social media platforms safer for Kentucky families."

Beyond the $358 million payment, Kentucky expects to receive nearly $7.5 million from a separate settlement involving Meta's handling of Facebook user data shared with third parties, including the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. Combined, the two agreements would result in approximately $365.5 million in payments to Kentucky.

Meta has agreed to implement sweeping changes to its platforms, including a combined two-hour daily time limit for users under 18 and mandatory interruptions after 15, 60, and 90 minutes of continuous use. Access to the platforms will be blocked between midnight and 6 a.m., and push notifications will be eliminated during school hours.

The company also committed to strengthening age-verification measures, implementing age-appropriate content controls, and enhancing parental oversight tools. Implementation of these protections will be monitored by independent auditors and participating states, including Kentucky.

Coleman has emphasized that the settlement represents more than financial recovery. "Kids deserve a childhood that isn't measured in likes and followers," Coleman said in a statement. The agreement is being compared to major consumer protection settlements such as tobacco litigation in the 1990s. Kentucky's Attorney General has signaled intentions to pursue similar actions against other social media platforms, including TikTok and Roblox, to strengthen protections for minors online.