# Meta Records $9.89 Billion Teen-Safety Charge in Third-Quarter Results By John Kim Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/37754 Published: 2026-10-22T11:03:25.000Z Updated: 2026-10-22T11:03:25.000Z Section: Business > Operating income was $12.988 billion for the quarter ended Sept. 30, and would have been $22.88 billion without the charge. Meta recorded a $9.89 billion teen-safety charge in the third quarter, bringing operating income to $12.988 billion for the three months ended Sept. 30. Without the charge, operating income would have been $22.88 billion. The [previously expected legal expense]() was included in Meta’s $51.613 billion in costs and expenses for the quarter. It stems from an agreement with state attorneys general concerning teen mental health and social media, reached in August. Meta reported $9.86 billion in net income for the quarter, a separate measure from operating income. The charge was recorded in the third-quarter results, while payments under the agreement are spread over 10 years. ## Links in this article - [previously expected legal expense](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/37000)