A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta Platforms to pay $567 million following findings that the company’s social media platforms caused harm to young users in the state. The decision marks the second significant ruling against Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, building on a jury verdict in March that found Meta violated consumer protection laws through misleading safety claims about its platforms.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid allocated the majority of the financial penalty, approximately $420 million, toward treatment services for affected youth over the next five years. The remaining funds will support educational initiatives, prevention programs, and screening services within New Mexico. The case centered on whether Meta’s platforms constituted a public nuisance under state law, with the judge hearing three weeks of testimony during the trial phase.
As part of the ruling, Meta must implement platform modifications including informational banners explaining safety features and privacy protections. The company is also required to enhance age verification systems and strengthen default privacy settings to reduce child exploitation risks. These changes will undergo state review and oversight to ensure compliance.
Meta stated it plans to appeal the decision, maintaining that it has actively worked to remove harmful content and protect young users. The case has attracted national attention as other states and municipalities pursue comparable legal actions against social media companies, signaling potential industry-wide regulatory changes.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
About the Author
