U.S. Virgin Islands — Today, Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea applauded a $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc., calling the agreement an important step toward strengthening protections for children and teens on social media platforms.
The settlement resolves claims brought by 47 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands alleging, among other things, that Meta designed Instagram with addictive features, knowingly exposed young users to serious mental health harms, and misled the public about the safety of its platforms.
The U.S. Virgin Islands maintains its own separate claims against Meta, which are pending in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. Those claims remain to be heard and are not resolved by this multistate settlement. The Virgin Islands’ independent action allows the territory to continue pursuing its broader claims through its own judicial process.
Attorney General Rhea applauded the Attorneys General involved in reaching the substantial settlement and emphasized the importance of the injunctive relief secured as part of the agreement.
“We applaud the Attorneys General and this substantial settlement. The injunctive relief is particularly important because it represents a significant step forward in protecting children and teens as they navigate social media platforms. While the U.S. Virgin Islands maintains its own claims before the Superior Court, we recognize the significance of these reforms and their potential to strengthen protections for young people. However, more remains to be done. We look forward to proving our claims in court and pursuing appropriate relief for the people of the Virgin Islands.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2026
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340) 774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov