Meta Ordered to Pay $567 Million for Youth Mental Health Harms in New Mexico

A New Mexico court has ordered Meta Platforms to pay $567 million to fund services addressing mental health harms experienced by minors, finding the company responsible for "public nuisance." The ruling mandates that Meta change how its platforms operate for underage users in the state.

Of the total amount, $420 million will go toward youth treatment services. The remaining funds will support awareness campaigns, prevention programs, screenings, and treatment referrals over the next five years. This judgment follows a March jury trial where Meta was fined $375 million in civil penalties for violating consumer protection laws. Combined, the financial obligations now approach $1.3 billion.

The lawsuit, filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, accused Meta of designing its social media services to be addictive for young users and failing to protect children from sexual exploitation on its platforms. The court found that Meta had misled consumers about platform safety and created a "public nuisance" that endangered minors' health and well-being.

Meta intends to appeal the ruling, stating its commitment to protecting young people online and asserting confidence in its track record. The company plans to continue defending itself against what it calls distorted claims. This decision comes as numerous states, local governments, and school districts across the U.S. pursue similar lawsuits against the social media industry, demanding systemic changes.

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We are confident in our track record of protecting young people online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that distort the facts.