A New Mexico state court ordered Meta to pay $567 million following a ruling that the company is responsible for creating a public nuisance related to children's mental health. Judge Bryan Biedscheid issued the decision after finding that the platforms Facebook and Instagram were designed to be addictive for young users.
The court mandate includes strict safety requirements for the next five years. Meta must implement monthly usage limits for teen accounts, restrict notifications, and improve protections against adult contact with minors. Furthermore, the ruling requires new safeguards for AI chatbots and an upgraded review process for reports of child sexual abuse on the platforms.
This decision marks the second phase of a legal challenge led by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. A jury previously found in March that Meta violated state consumer protection laws by misrepresenting the safety of its apps for younger audiences, resulting in $375 million in damages. The current ruling adds significant operational constraints alongside the financial penalty.
Meta stated its intent to appeal the court order. The company maintains that it possesses a record of protecting teens online and intends to continue defending itself against these allegations. This case remains a focal point for other states and school districts across the country that are pursuing similar legal actions against social media companies to force changes to their platforms.