Meta Ordered to Pay $567m Over Harm to Young Users

A court in the US state of New Mexico ordered Meta on Thursday to pay $567m into a teen mental health fund and change how Facebook and Instagram operate for young users.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid ruled that Meta’s platforms constitute a public nuisance under state law. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez had accused the company of designing its products to addict young users and failing to adequately protect children from sexual exploitation.

Biedscheid ordered Meta to introduce youth-safety measures including monthly limits on teenagers’ use of Facebook and Instagram, restrictions on notifications, tighter controls on adult contact with minors and safeguards for AI chatbots. The decree will remain in place for five years.

Meta said it would appeal the ruling, adding that it has been working to identify and remove harmful content from its platforms.

Earlier in the same case, a jury ordered Meta to pay $375m after finding that it had violated consumer protection law by misrepresenting the safety of Facebook and Instagram for young users.

(Reuters, lud)