A New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567 million to address harm to children on Facebook and Instagram, adding to a previous $375 million penalty.
WEB DESK: A New Mexico court has ordered Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay $567 million to address the impact of its social media platforms on children, marking one of the largest rulings against the technology company over child safety.
The latest order follows an earlier jury decision that imposed $375 million in civil penalties against Meta. Combined, the rulings bring the company’s liability in the case to $942 million.
Court orders Meta to fund child protection measures
According to the court ruling, the bulk of the newly ordered $567 million — around $420 million — will be directed toward treatment services for young people.
The remaining funds will support awareness campaigns, prevention programmes, screening services and other initiatives designed to address potential harms associated with social media use among children over a five-year period.
The court also ordered Meta to introduce a range of changes aimed at improving protections for younger users.
These measures include educational banners, stronger age-verification efforts and cooperation with schools to help identify users under the age of 13.
Earlier jury found Meta liable
The latest ruling follows a landmark trial in which a New Mexico jury found Meta liable for violating state consumer protection laws and for failing to adequately protect children from harmful content and exploitation.
The jury previously ordered Meta to pay $375 million in penalties.
The case has focused on allegations that Meta’s platforms contributed to harm to children’s mental health and failed to adequately address risks involving child sexual exploitation.
Meta has rejected the allegations and said it plans to appeal the latest ruling.
The company has maintained that it has invested significantly in measures designed to protect young people and has disputed the characterisation of its platforms and safety practices in the case.
Growing legal pressure on social media companies
The ruling comes as Meta and other major technology companies face increasing legal scrutiny over the impact of social media on children and teenagers.
Thousands of lawsuits involving social media companies are pending across the United States, with governments, families and schools increasingly seeking greater accountability over online safety and youth mental health.
The New Mexico decision could therefore have wider implications for the technology industry, particularly as regulators and courts continue examining how social media platforms design their services and protect minors.
Meta’s planned appeal means the legal dispute is expected to continue, while the ruling adds to mounting pressure on the company to strengthen child-safety measures across its platforms.
