Court Imposes Nearly $1 Billion In Total Penalties
A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million over allegations that its platforms contributed to social media addiction and harm among children, bringing the company’s total financial penalties in the case to $942 million.
New Restrictions For Young Users
Beyond the financial penalty, the court ordered Meta to introduce a series of changes affecting users under 18 in New Mexico. Under the ruling, like counts should only be visible to minors with parental or guardian approval. Push notifications must also be disabled between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., while usage should be capped at 90 hours per month, or roughly three hours per day.
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The court said “significant numbers of people in New Mexico experience harm from Meta’s products due to risks of sexual exploitation, interference with education, and adverse mental health outcomes.”
Although the judge acknowledged that Meta is not the sole cause of the youth mental health crisis, he concluded that the company’s platforms contribute significantly to the problem. The ruling describes Meta’s impact as a “public nuisance” in New Mexico and requires the company to take steps to address it.
Meta Plans To Appeal
Meta said it intends to appeal the decision. “We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content,” company spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement. “We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts.”
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez welcomed the ruling, accusing the company of prioritising engagement and profit over children’s safety.
“For years, Meta knew its platforms were harming New Mexico’s kids, from feeding a youth mental health crisis to connecting predators with children,” Torrez said. “Today, Meta is paying for that choice. This judgment holds the company accountable for the damage it caused to our children, our families, and our schools, and it forces real changes to how Meta operates in New Mexico.”
Legal Pressure On Meta Continues
The decision follows another legal setback for Meta earlier this year, when a Los Angeles court also ruled against the company over alleged addictive design features.
The social media giant continues to face multiple lawsuits across the United States, including a consolidated federal case in Oakland, California, brought by 33 states, alongside separate legal actions filed by states such as Tennessee.
