A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay $567 million to address mental health harms caused to children. Judge Bryan Biedscheid ruled that the social media giant created a public nuisance that endangered young users, contributing significantly to a mental health crisis among teenagers in the state. This ruling comes as part of the second phase of a landmark trial and follows a March jury verdict that found Meta liable for exposing children to online predators and misleading users about platform safety, resulting in an additional $375 million in penalties.
The newly ordered $567 million will be placed into an abatement fund, with $420 million dedicated specifically to treatment services for young people over the next five years. The remaining funds will be used for screening services, awareness, and prevention. Beyond the financial penalty, the court ordered Meta to overhaul safety features on its platforms. These requirements include implementing improved age verification and creating banner and informational screens that clearly explain protection features.
The legal battle began in 2023 when New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez sued Meta, alleging the company failed to protect children from online dangers. During closing arguments, it was argued that Meta's algorithms directed adults toward content posted by teenage users, violating the state's unfair practices act. While this case has resulted in total fines of $942 million, Meta has stated it intends to appeal the ruling, maintaining that it works hard to protect young users and remove harmful content from its platforms.