Meta Hit With $567 Million Penalty In Child Safety Ruling

SANTA FE, NM – A New Mexico court has ordered Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, to pay $567 million to address harm to young users from its platforms, in the second phase of a case.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid said $420 million of the amount will be used for treatment services for young people, with the remainder allocated for prevention, awareness and screening efforts over the next five years.

The ruling follows a March jury decision that imposed $375 million in civil penalties after finding the company knowingly harmed children’s mental health and did not disclose risks linked to child sexual exploitation on its platforms. The total amount now stands at $942 million.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the decision shows companies will be held accountable when product design puts children at risk.

Meta said it will appeal the ruling, adding that it continues to invest in safety measures and disagrees with the claims.

The case is among several legal challenges facing Meta in the United States over the impact of social media on young users. The company is scheduled to face a federal trial later this month in California as part of a broader multi-state lawsuit.