A court in the US state of New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay $567 million and restrict several features on Facebook and Instagram for children, ruling that the company created a “public nuisance” by exposing young users to harm.
The decision, delivered on Thursday, follows an earlier $375 million penalty imposed in March after a jury found Meta liable for making children and teenagers more vulnerable to online predators.
The latest ruling comes as Meta faces mounting legal challenges across the United States over claims that its social media platforms harm children’s mental health. A major trial involving similar allegations is due to begin in California next week.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez described the judgment as a landmark victory for families.
“Today’s decision is a victory for every parent who has worried about what social media is doing to their child and every child who deserves to grow up safer online,” Torrez said.
He added that the case was about protecting children and ensuring technology companies could not profit from practices that put young people at risk.
The ruling marks the first time a US court has found a social media company guilty of creating a “public nuisance” over risks posed to children.
About three-quarters of the $567 million award will be placed in a mental health treatment fund to be paid over five years. The remaining funds will support awareness and prevention programmes while helping to enforce the court’s directives.
Court orders restrictions for young users
Judge Bryan Biedscheid ruled that teenagers are especially vulnerable to engagement-driven features such as autoplay, infinite scrolling, visible “like” counts, push notifications and algorithmic recommendations.
The court ordered Meta to:
– Limit users under 18 to 90 hours of platform use per month.
– Restrict push notifications, including blocking some during school hours.
– Hide “like” counts for young users.
– Strengthen measures to prevent children under 13 in New Mexico from creating Facebook or Instagram accounts.
– Submit compliance reports to the court twice a year.
Meta said it would challenge the ruling.
“We disagree with the ruling and will appeal,” the company said in a statement, adding that it remains confident in its efforts to protect teenagers online.
More lawsuits ahead
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Meta concealed internal research showing the risks its platforms posed to young users while allowing its algorithms to direct adults towards content posted by teenagers.
The company had already been found liable in March for violating New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act by misleading consumers about the safety of its platforms for children.
Meta is also facing lawsuits from more than 30 US states over similar allegations involving child safety and mental health.
