SANTA FE: A New Mexico state court has ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a teen mental health fund and implement sweeping safety measures for young users after finding the company responsible for harming children’s wellbeing through its social media platforms.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid ruled that Meta had created a public nuisance under New Mexico law, siding with Attorney General Raul Torrez, who argued the company designed Facebook and Instagram in ways that encouraged excessive use by minors while failing to adequately protect them from online harms and sexual exploitation.
Court orders safety reforms
The court directed Meta to introduce a range of youth protection measures for five years, including monthly usage limits for teenagers, restrictions on notifications, tighter controls on contact between adults and minors, enhanced safeguards for AI chatbots, and stronger review procedures for child sexual abuse reports.
The ruling follows an earlier jury verdict that ordered Meta to pay $375 million after finding the company violated consumer protection laws by misrepresenting the safety of its platforms for young users.
Meta plans appeal
Meta said it would appeal the decision, maintaining that it has invested heavily in protecting teenagers online and disputing claims made in the lawsuit.
The decision comes as the company faces similar legal challenges across the United States, with more than 40 states and over 1,300 school districts pursuing litigation over the alleged impact of social media platforms on children’s mental health and online safety. Meta is also preparing for another major trial in California next week involving claims that it designed its platforms to be addictive for young users.