Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been ordered by a New Mexico court to pay $567 million over claims that its social media platforms failed to adequately protect children from online harm.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, also requires the tech giant to introduce stricter safety measures for young users, marking one of the biggest legal setbacks for Meta in the United States.
The decision comes months after a jury had already found the company liable in the same case and imposed an earlier $375 million penalty over similar allegations.
According to the court, Meta created what was described as a “public nuisance” by allowing platform features that exposed children and teenagers to potential predators and harmful online experiences.
The judgment is considered historic, as it is the first time a U.S. court has found a social media company guilty of creating a public nuisance in relation to child safety.
Reacting to the verdict, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez described the ruling as a major victory for parents and children.
“Today’s decision is a victory for every parent who has worried about what social media is doing to their child and every child who deserves to grow up safer online,” he said.
As part of the ruling, about 75 percent of the $567 million penalty will be paid into a mental health treatment fund over the next five years.
The remaining funds will support programmes focused on child safety awareness, prevention and ensuring that Meta complies with the court’s directives.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid ruled that certain platform features, including autoplay, infinite scrolling, like counts, push notifications and algorithmic recommendations, encourage excessive use among teenagers and increase potential risks.
The court ordered Meta to limit push notifications and cap usage for users under 18 to about 90 hours per month, while also blocking certain notifications during school hours.
Meta was further directed to hide public “like” counts for young users and strengthen efforts to prevent children under the age of 13 in New Mexico from creating Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The company must also submit progress reports to the court twice every year to demonstrate compliance with the new safety measures.
However, Meta has rejected the ruling and confirmed that it will challenge the decision.
In a statement, the company said it disagreed with the judgment and remained confident in its efforts to protect young users online.
The case is expected to have wider implications, as more than 30 U.S. states are currently pursuing similar lawsuits against Meta over the alleged impact of its platforms on children’s safety and mental health.
A major trial involving similar allegations is also expected to begin in California next week.
Source: AFP.
