A New Mexico state court ordered Meta to pay $567 million into an abatement fund to address harms caused to children's mental health by its platforms. This $567 million order is in addition to $375 million in civil penalties and damages Meta was previously ordered to pay in the same case.
Ordered to be paid by Meta into an abatement fund to address mental health harms to children.
New Mexico State Court Judge Bryan Biedscheid ruled that Meta's social media platforms created a public nuisance. In his decision, Judge Biedscheid compared Meta to a factory, where advertising and content serve as the product, while the psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children represent the pollution that must be abated.
A significant contributing factor to the current mental health crisis
Out of the total $567 million fund, $420 million is dedicated to treatment services for people harmed by Meta's platforms. The lawsuit was originally initiated in 2023 by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, following an undercover operation that involved a fake social media profile of a 13-year-old girl.
The court order requires Meta to implement several youth-safety measures, including monthly limits on teens' use of Facebook and Instagram, restrictions on notifications, and tighter controls on adult contact with minors. Furthermore, Meta is required to attempt to develop a dedicated under-13-years-of-age prediction model within two years.
Meta announced that it disagrees with the $567 million ruling and plans to appeal the court's decision.
We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online
