PODCAST RELEASE

Big Tech's Big Tobacco Season

In this timely episode, Donna Rice Hughes is joined by child online safety expert Rick Lane to unpack what could be a turning point in holding Big Tech accountable for harming children online.

Rick and Donna discuss Meta’s $17 billion settlement with more than 47 state attorneys general which is the biggest Big Tech settlement in history. In the context of Meta’s $60.46+ billion in net income in 2025, the whopping multibillion- dollar settlement is only about 8% of its annual bottom line.

Donna has emphasized for years that if Big Tech companies prioritize the safety of children, it will have a positive impact on their bottom line and overall market value. Using Meta's recent financial information, its share count was roughly 2.52 billion shares, and its market capitalization on August 25 was approximately $1.44 trillion, which rose to approximately $1.57 trillion market cap on September 3, just one week after the August 26 settlement was announced. This equates to an increase of about $130 billion.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s personal wealth increased by roughly $17 billion due to the increase in the value of his 13% ownership stake in Meta.

From Meta’s historic multibillion-dollar settlement to major legal actions involving TikTok, YouTube, Snap and Roblox, Donna and Rick explore why this may be Big Tech’s “Big Tobacco” moment.

"It’s not about the money. What we all really want is for these sites to make themselves safer for kids.” — Rick Lane

"TikTok is not a safe place for your kids. We know they love it. It’s designed for them to love it.” — Donna Rice Hughes

'Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes' is available on our podcast page or your preferred platform. Hosted by Donna Rice Hughes, President and CEO of Enough Is Enough®, this podcast provides parents and guardians with up-to-date information, tips, and expert insights on topics like online predators, sex trafficking, pornography, social media, online gaming, Big Tech accountability, and child protection legislation.

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Don’t forget—our InternetSafety101.org website offers free, practical resources and navigable guides to help educate, equip, empower and engage parents and caregivers in today’s digital landscape with confidence. Visit our resource page for expert tips, prevention tools, and step-by-step guidance to better protect your children online.

Parents must remain vigilant about their children’s online activity, maintain ongoing conversations about digital safety, and partner with organizations like Enough Is Enough—please consider making a donation today to help us continue protecting children from online exploitation and abuse.

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Enough Is Enough® is a national non-partisan, non-profit organization who has led the fight to make the Internet safer for children and families since 1994. EIE's efforts are focused on combating internet p*rnography, child sexual abuse material, sexual predation, sex trafficking and cyberbullying by incorporating a four-pronged prevention strategy with shared responsibilities between the public, corporate America, government and faith community.

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