A New Mexico judge has ruled against Meta in a significant case concerning youth mental health. The court ordered the company to pay $567 million to fund treatment and prevention programs, concluding that specific design choices on Facebook and Instagram caused a public nuisance. The state legal action argued that features such as autoplay, notifications, and endless scrolling intentionally kept children on the platforms for extended periods.
Attorney General Raúl Torrez brought the lawsuit forward, asserting that these design decisions contributed to documented increases in anxiety, depression, and self-harm among the state's youth. The court found that Meta failed to warn parents and policymakers about the dangers associated with these interface features. The judgment mandates that the $567 million be allocated specifically to mental health infrastructure, covering screening, assessment, and direct treatment services for affected minors.
Meta responded to the ruling by expressing disagreement with the legal findings. The company stated its intent to appeal the decision, maintaining that it implements safeguards for younger users and that the allegations misrepresent their internal safety efforts. This ruling follows a previous jury verdict where Meta was found liable for 75,000 violations of the state's Unfair Practices Act.
This decision marks a major moment in the broader legal conflict between states and tech companies. While this case focuses on New Mexico, Meta currently faces similar litigation in federal court and multiple state jurisdictions. The outcome of the appeals process remains pending, but the court has signaled an interest in moving the funds toward active mental health initiatives as soon as possible.