Meta ordered to change youth protections in $567 million court ruling

A New Mexico state court has mandated that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, pay $567 million and fundamentally alter how its platforms function for young users within the state. The ruling, issued Thursday by Judge Bryan Biedscheid in Santa Fe, found Meta responsible for creating a public nuisance and harming children's mental health.

The state's Attorney General, Raúl Torrez, had accused Meta of intentionally designing its products to foster addiction among young users and failing to adequately protect minors from sexual exploitation on its platforms. Judge Biedscheid's order mandates a range of youth-safety measures, including monthly usage limits for teens on Facebook and Instagram, restrictions on notifications, enhanced controls over adult interactions with minors, safeguards for AI chatbots, and improved review processes for reports of child sexual abuse. These measures are to remain in effect for five years under the terms of the financial decree.

Meta has stated its intention to appeal the ruling, maintaining its confidence in its efforts to protect underage users online. "We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts," the company said in a statement. This legal battle is one of many facing Meta and other social media companies across the country.

The decision stems from the second phase of New Mexico's lawsuit. A jury had previously found Meta in violation of the state's consumer protection law in March for misrepresenting the safety of its platforms for young users, ordering $375 million in damages. The subsequent trial, which did not involve a jury, focused on whether Meta's platforms constituted a "public nuisance" under New Mexico law. This case is being closely monitored as numerous states, municipalities, and school districts pursue similar legal actions to compel industry-wide changes.

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We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts.