MetaFacebook is finally paying out settlements to active users in the United States between 2007 and 2022 over the “mishandling” of data.
Protecting your personal data online, be it on social media or another platform, is a pretty high priority. Every website has some sort of pop-up box or button where you can consent to your data being used elsewhere.
Throughout the 2010s, however, Facebook users had their personal data collected by Cambridge Analytica without consent. This data was ultimately used by political campaigns for advertising.
In 2022, Meta Platforms – the company behind Facebook – agreed to pay $725 million to settle a class action lawsuit that had been ongoing since 2018. And now, almost three years on from that settlement being agreed, users are finally getting their payouts.
Facebook is paying out to longtime US users
Facebook users in the United States who had used the platform between 2007 and 2022 had until August 25 to file a claim for a payout from the settlement.
As per reports, the average payout is around $30, but users have reported getting as low as $3 from it. They are splitting a pot of $541 million, with $180 million going to lawyer fees, and the rest being administrative costs.
The payouts are determined by a points system, with points being awarded for how many months a user logged into Facebook over the eligible period. These points don’t equate one-to-one for your payout, however. You’re not just going to get $10 if you logged in 10 times.
As noted, users had until August 25 to join the class action suit. You can’t just log onto a website now and try to get a payout. So, be wary of any scams that may pop up regarding that.
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Anyone who is actually eligible for a payout will have received an email documenting what they’re owed before it is paid to them within a few days. Again, be wary of scams trying to take advantage of this.