Inside Meta’s Landmark Settlement with Nicki Petrossi
Sarah welcomes back former social media executive turned digital safety advocate Nicki Petrossi to break down the latest Meta settlement.
Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle lawsuits brought by nearly every U.S. state over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were intentionally designed to keep young people engaged while exposing them to serious harm.
It’s being called a historic victory, and even Big Tech’s “Big Tobacco moment, “ but Meta admitted no wrongdoing, billions of dollars are conditional, many of the new protections can be overridden by parents, and thousands of other lawsuits remain unresolved.
In this episode, Sarah welcomes back former social media executive turned digital safety advocate Nicki Petrossi to break down what Meta actually agreed to, which changes could meaningfully help teenagers, and where the settlement falls short.
They also clarify the different legal cases involving Meta, including the New Mexico verdict, the K.G.M. trial in Los Angeles, state lawsuits, individual plaintiffs, and cases brought by school districts.
Most importantly, Nicki explains why this settlement is not an “all clear” for parents, and why meaningful protection will require enforceable, industry-wide standards that don’t expire after ten years.
More About Nicki:
Nicki Petrossi is a former social media executive turned social media reform advocate. In late 2023, Nicki launched Scrolling 2 Death, a podcast for parents who are worried about social media. It’s a safe space to elevate the human experiences of children online and educate parents on how to keep them safe.
In 2025, Nicki launched Tech-Safe Learning Coalition, which supports parents related to issues with school tech, and The Heat is On, an investigative mini-series and parent movement to hold Big Tech accountable for harm to children.
Nicki also travels the world as an event speaker, inspiring families, educators and lawmakers through online safety education and awareness.
Connect w/ Nicki:
Founder & Host, Scrolling 2 Death Podcast
Co-Founder, Tech-Safe Learning Coalition
Founder, S2D Foundation
Resources and links
Motley Rice Social Media Evidence Library
Connect with Sarah Adams:
Chapters:
(00:00) Why Meta’s settlement matters
(02:04) Disturbing advertisements uncovered on Meta’s platforms
(05:29) Are social media companies suppressing their critics?
(08:05) The case against Meta and why it settled
(11:19) Is this a victory for children or a favourable deal for Meta?
(14:49) Breaking down the settlement money
(16:40) The new restrictions planned for teen accounts
(18:17) Why parents can override many of the protections
(20:46) Can this be called accountability without an admission of wrongdoing?
(22:38) Is the financial penalty large enough to change Meta’s behaviour?
(23:48) Individual, state, and school-district lawsuits explained
(26:30) Meta’s appeals and what happens next
(27:33) Is this Big Tech’s “Big Tobacco moment”?
(29:15) What the settlement means for parents
(31:28) Is any social platform truly safe for children?
(32:37) What gives Nicki hope
(34:51) The next fight: Big Tech inside schools
(36:48) Where to follow Nicki and access her parent resources
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