Have a Facebook account?receive a settlement

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to correct the date the judge tentatively approved the settlement.

(NEXSTAR) – A massive $725 million settlement involving Facebook parent company Meta has been provisionally approved by a judge. last monthpaves the way for users of social media platforms to apply for a portion of the payment.

Meta agreed to pay to settle a lawsuit alleging Facebook allowed it to share users’ personal data with third parties. The company collected data on his 87 million Facebook users, The Associated Press reported.

Final approval of the settlement isn’t expected until September, but Facebook users don’t have to wait to file their claims.

Who is eligible to receive payment?

You don’t need to know if your data was accessed by a third-party app to get any part of the settlement. Anyone who was a Facebook user between May 24, 2007 and December 22, 2022 is eligible. payment page.

This means many qualify — Facebook reports 2 billion users worldwide, including about 200 million in the United States and Canada.

Only US users are eligible for payment.

How do I apply?

There are two ways to submit your claim: online or by mail.

To submit online, you will need: click hereanswer a few questions about yourself, then decide on a payment method (prepaid gift card, direct deposit, PayPal, etc.).

To submit by mail, you will need: print some forms Please send to the Settlement Administrator in Philadelphia.

To qualify, you must submit your form by August 25th.

how much can i get?

As with many class action lawsuits, the amount each individual pays depends on the number of claims. How long you’ve been a Facebook user also determines how much you pay. The longer your account stays active, the bigger your payout will be. Be. (You must disclose whether you deleted your Facebook account when you submit your claim.)

And legal fees and administration fees will be deducted from the $725 million pot before it hits your bank account.

When will I be paid?

A final settlement hearing is set for September 7, 2023, so no approved payments will be sent before then. “Settlement payments will be distributed as soon as possible after the court has given final approval of the settlement and the appeal has been resolved.” Billing site FAQ explains.

Hearing dates are also subject to change.