If you were one of the millions of Facebook users who opted into a settlement stemming from lawsuits filed against the popular social media company for reportedly misusing data, we have some news for you: According to recent court documents, the company is finally going to send out the settlements. Below, we break down how much you can expect to receive and whether there’s still time to opt into the payment.
What to know about the Facebook settlement
In 2023, millions of Facebook users filed a claim against the social media platform and its parent company, Meta. In it, users claimed their data had been shared with various third-party sources, including advertisers, without their permission. The plaintiffs and defendants reached a settlement of $725 million, all of which will to be given back to Facebook users who believed their data was wrongfully shared.
“We pursued a settlement as it’s in the best interest of our community and shareholders,” a Meta spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch in 2023. “We are notifying people through their Facebook notifications about this settlement so they can decide whether to participate.”
Those who did decide to participate then submitted a claim online and have been waiting for their payouts. Those included are Facebook users between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022. At the time, the company said, “Unless you opt out of the settlement, you are automatically part of the settlement. If you do nothing, you will not get a payment from this settlement and you will give up the right to sue, continue to sue or be part of another lawsuit against the Defendant [Facebook/Meta] related to the legal claims or factual allegations resolved by this Settlement.”
This means that even if you were a Facebook user at that time, you shouldn’t expect a settlement from the company unless you filed a claim back in 2023. You are also ineligible to sue the company on your own accord if you chose not to opt into the settlement.
Those who did file a claim should be able to receive the money, as long as the Settlement Administrator approved it. However, it’s important to note that if you are one of those people expected to receive a payment, “will give up the right to sue the Defendant [Facebook/Meta] in a separate lawsuit about the legal claims or factual allegations this Settlement resolves,” according to the official website.
How much money can you get in the Facebook settlement?
A newly released court document revealed that the average settlement will be $29.43, an amount determined by the length of time the defendant was an active Facebook user. The maximum amount expected to be awarded is $38.36, which will be given only to those who were on Facebook for the entire 15-year period outlined above.
“The total amount distributed will be the Settlement Fund minus the Administrative Costs, any amount awarded by the Court as fees and costs to Class Counsel, and any Service Awards to the Settlement Class Representatives. The resulting amount is called the ‘Net Settlement Fund,’” reads the website. “The Net Settlement Fund is the amount of money available to be distributed to Settlement Class Members who submitted a valid claim. Settlement payment amounts were determined in accordance with the terms of the Plan of Allocation.”
Those expected to receive it will get an email from donotreply@facebookuserprivacysettlement.com, with the subject line “Facebook User Privacy Settlement–Settlement and Distribution Status Update.” In that email, you will find your claim ID number, which allows you to check how much you are receiving and when you can expect to receive your money. The payment will be sent via Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, ACH or check, depending on your preference.
The payments are expected to be sent out over the next 10 weeks, and it’s unclear how they are determining who gets their money when.
Can you still opt into the Facebook settlement?
Sadly, the opt-in date for the Settlement was in August 2023, meaning that those who didn’t file a claim cannot expect any money from this particular Facebook payout.
