Law & Justice
Meta ordered to pay New Mexico $567m in child harm case
Meta has been ordered by a New Mexico judge to pay $567 million over five years and make changes to Facebook and Instagram after the state said the company created a public nuisance and harmed children.
The order follows a March jury finding that Meta was liable for endangering children by making them vulnerable to predators on its platforms, among other harms. Meta was previously ordered to pay $375 million in damages to New Mexico.
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said it disagreed with Thursday's ruling and would appeal. The company said it works to keep people safe on its platforms and remains confident in its record of protecting teens online.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez sued Meta in 2023, alleging that the company failed to protect children from online dangers. During closing arguments, prosecutor Linda Singer said Meta's algorithms directed adults toward content posted by teenage users while the company concealed internal findings about risks to young people.
The jury found in March that Meta violated the state's Unfair Practices Act by misleading consumers about the safety of its products for children. Torrez said Thursday that the decision was about protecting children and families.
Around three-quarters of the new $567 million fund is to be used for mental health treatment. The rest is allocated to programs covering awareness and prevention, screening and assessment, referral and coordination, implementation and evaluation.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid also ordered Meta to report to the court twice a year on compliance. The ruling requires product changes, including continued efforts to keep children in New Mexico under 13 off Facebook and Instagram. It also orders limits on push notifications and usage to 90 hours a month for users under 18, and requires Meta to hide like counts.
Thousands of lawsuits have been filed in the United States seeking to hold social media companies liable for alleged harms to children and mental health. More than 30 US states are suing Meta over similar allegations, with a potential trial set to begin in August in Oakland, California.
Update
Meta must provide the court with updates twice a year on compliance efforts.
The ruling orders Meta to make product changes, including continued efforts to keep children in New Mexico under 13 off Facebook and Instagram.
The judge ordered Meta to limit push notifications and usage to 90 hours a month for users under 18 and to hide like counts.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid noted that teenagers are particularly susceptible to engagement features such as autoplay, infinite scrolling, like counts, push notifications and algorithmic recommendations.
More than 30 US states are suing Meta over similar allegations, with a potential trial set to begin in August in Oakland, California.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 August 2026 at 01:37:34 UTC.
Update
Meta said it disagreed with the ruling and would appeal.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said the decision was a victory for parents and children seeking safer online conditions.
About three-quarters of the $567 million fund is to be used for mental health treatment, with the rest allocated to awareness, prevention, screening, referral, coordination, implementation and evaluation programs.
The March jury finding included a conclusion that Meta violated New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act by misleading consumers about the safety of its products for children.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 August 2026 at 00:55:13 UTC.
Update
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay the sum over five years.
The order followed New Mexico’s claims that Meta created a public nuisance and harmed children.
Meta was previously ordered in March to pay $375 million in damages to New Mexico after a jury found it liable for endangering children.
Source note: AFP news report published on 7 August 2026 at 00:24:07 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Meta's planned appeal leaves the final outcome and enforcement timeline unresolved.
Source
AFP news report published on .