New Mexico Court Fines Meta $567 Million in Child Safety Case
A New Mexico state judge ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million penalty, bringing total fines in a youth safety lawsuit to $942 million. The ruling mandates operational changes for minor accounts, including removing public metrics, restricting late-night notifications, and capping monthly usage. Meta denied liability and announced plans to appeal the decision.
Key points
- A New Mexico court ordered Meta, the multinational technology conglomerate, to pay a new $567 million fine on Thursday, following a previous $375 million penalty issued in March.
- The total financial penalty against Meta for youth addiction and safety harms in the state has reached $942 million.
- The judicial order requires Meta to eliminate public Like counts for minors without parental consent, pause push notifications between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and limit teen usage to 90 hours per month.
- The presiding judge stated that Meta's platforms constitute a public nuisance contributing to youth mental health crises, sexual exploitation risks, and educational disruptions.
- Meta stated its intention to appeal the ruling, defending its online safety record and handling of harmful content.
A state judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million in financial penalties following a legal case focused on youth social media addiction and online safety. Combined with a previous $375 million fine levied in March, the tech giant faces total court-mandated payments of $942 million in the state.
Beyond the financial penalties, the Thursday ruling mandates significant operational changes for Meta's platforms within New Mexico. The court ordered the company to remove public Like counts for users under 18 unless explicitly authorized by a parent or guardian. Additionally, Meta must pause push notifications for underage accounts between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and cap youth usage at 90 hours per month, averaging roughly three hours daily.
The presiding judge noted that while Meta is not solely responsible for broader youth mental health challenges, its platforms create a severe public nuisance involving risks of sexual exploitation, educational interference, and psychological harm.
Meta strongly disagreed with the outcome and announced plans to appeal the judgment. Representatives for the company emphasized their ongoing safety efforts, expressed confidence in their record of protecting teenagers online, and criticized the legal claims as misrepresenting their work against bad actors.
Sources
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