Meta was ordered by a New Mexico judge to pay $567 million and implement new safety measures for young users on its platforms.
The ruling represents the largest financial penalty so far against Meta in legal battles related to social media harm and addiction.
The big picture: The $567 million fine is in addition to $375 million previously ordered in March, after a jury found Meta had misled users about safety and enabled sexual exploitation of minors.
- Funds from the penalty will be used to provide treatment for young people harmed by social media use.
- Judge Bryan Biedscheid stated that Meta’s platforms significantly contributed to the mental health crisis among New Mexico’s youth, citing substantial evidence.
Go deeper: Alongside the financial penalty, Meta must stop sending push notifications to underage users on Instagram and Facebook between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- The company is also required to limit time spent by underage users on its platforms to no more than 90 hours per month.
The other side: A Meta spokesperson said the company disagreed with the ruling and planned to appeal, claiming continued efforts to protect teens online.
Zoom out: The case is part of thousands of similar lawsuits nationwide, with states and school districts accusing Meta of causing widespread harm through addictive platform features.
- New Mexico is the first state to secure a court ruling against Meta; upcoming trials include one led by attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey.
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