Facebook settlement payment sizes revealed: Here's the minimum (and maximum) you'll get
Share and Follow


(NEXSTAR) – Documents filed in a California court last week are finally giving us a better idea of how big individual payouts will be in the $725 million class action lawsuit over Facebook users’ privacy.

We’ve long known that big pot of money would get cut down substantially by legal fees and administrative costs, before being divvied up among a huge group of people. Because the class action lawsuit affected basically all U.S. Facebook users between 2007 and 2022, millions of people were eligible for a piece of the pie.

When lawyers gave an update in court two years ago, they were still parsing through about 28 million claims. “As far as we can tell that’s the largest number of claims ever filed in a class action in the United States,” said Lesley Weaver, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the case.

After a long process of validating legitimate claims and tossing out the ones that were fraudulent or duplicative, Angeion, the company in charge of distributing the payments, has finished its calculations determining how much each individual will get as payments go out starting this month.

How big will your payment be?

The smallest possible payment is $4.89 and the maximum payment is $38.36, according to court documents filed on Friday. The average payment will be $29.43 (which is pretty close to the estimate we knew prior to this).

Whether your payment is closer to $5 or $40 depends on how long you had a Facebook account during the class period. There’s a point system in place, with one point awarded for every month you had a Facebook account between May 2007 and December 2022. The maximum number of points you can have is 188, which would give you the maximum payment of around $38.

If you have fewer points, because you weren’t on Facebook for that entire time, you’ll receive a smaller payment. The minimum payment of $4.89 “corresponds with the payment to Authorized Claimants who were Facebook Users with activated accounts for 24 months during the Class Period.”

Any amount smaller than that makes it more likely people will not redeem the payment at all, the court documents state.

What is the class action lawsuit about?

The social media company agreed to pay $725 million to settle claims it violated users’ privacy by sharing their data with third parties. The most famous third party was Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm that supported Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The firm harvested the data of as many as 87 million Facebook users, the Associated Press reported.

While Meta agreed to the payout, it denies wrongdoing.

The distribution of payments has started, according to Angeion, and is expected to continue for 10 weeks.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Nick Reiner hires high-profile defense attorney after arrest for parents' murder

Nick Reiner, Son of Filmmaker Rob Reiner, Makes First Court Appearance in Connection with Parents’ Murder Case

On Tuesday, Nick Reiner faced charges for the murder of his parents,…
Jalen Brunson hypes up Knicks supporting cast in NBA Cup win

Jalen Brunson Sparks Knicks’ Triumph: Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of Their NBA Cup Victory

Jalen Brunson couldn’t contain his enthusiasm as he celebrated the Knicks’ triumphant…
Brown University shooting probe faces hurdles after campus empties out as witnesses scatter: former FBI agent

Brown University Shooting Investigation Stalls as Campus Empties and Witnesses Disperse, Says Ex-FBI Agent

The probe into the shooting at Brown University is encountering challenges, as…
DOJ claims halting Trump's ballroom would be a national security risk

DOJ Warns of National Security Implications if Trump’s Ballroom Project is Stopped

This week in court, attorneys for Attorney General Pam Bondi asserted that…
SEE IT: Florida teen Anna Kepner captured on video dancing at cruise sail away party before mysterious death

Tragic Mystery: Florida Teen Anna Kepner Seen Joyfully Dancing Before Unexplained Death on Cruise

Recently shared footage captures 18-year-old Anna Kepner joyfully dancing with other passengers…
Agriculture secretary demands Minnesota fix SNAP benefits for 4 counties immediately under pilot program

Urgent Call to Action: Agriculture Secretary Urges Minnesota to Revamp SNAP Benefits in 4 Counties Under New Pilot Initiative

In an effort to address a staggering welfare fraud case that has…
Former Texas coach allegedly used AI document to groom teen with manipulation tactics: report

AI Deception: Ex-Texas Coach Accused of Using Technology for Disturbing Teen Grooming Scheme

A former teacher and coach from Texas has been apprehended on allegations…
Gil Gerard, known for role in 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,' has died

Beloved ‘Buck Rogers’ Star Gil Gerard Passes Away

Gil Gerard, the actor who became a household name for his role…