Meta Ordered to Pay $567 Million Over Harm to Young Users in New Mexico

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has been ordered by a New Mexico court to pay $567 million (approximately ₹5,000 crore) to address the harm allegedly caused to young users on its platforms.

The order marks the second phase of a landmark lawsuit that Meta lost in March. In a ruling delivered late Thursday, Judge Bryan Biedscheid directed that $420 million of the total amount be allocated to treatment services for affected youth. The remaining funds will be used over the next five years for awareness and prevention programs, screening services, and other related initiatives.

The latest penalty comes in addition to the $375 million fine imposed during the first phase of the trial. At that stage, the jury found that Meta had knowingly harmed children's mental health and concealed information about child sexual exploitation occurring on its platforms.

During the second phase of the proceedings, state attorneys urged the court to require Meta to implement sweeping reforms. The proposed measures include limiting addictive platform features, strengthening age verification systems, introducing stricter default privacy settings, and enhancing safeguards to prevent child sexual exploitation.

The case is being viewed as one of the most significant legal actions against a major social media company, highlighting growing concerns over the impact of digital platforms on children's mental health and online safety.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. While we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, News Setu makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the content. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.