New Mexico Court Orders Meta To Pay $567 Million Over Harm To Young Users
A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, to pay $567 million and make major changes to its platforms for young users after finding the company responsible for harming children’s mental health.
· 4 min read
A court in New Mexico, United States, has ordered Meta to pay $567 million and change how Facebook and Instagram work for young users in the state.
The ruling came after Judge Bryan Biedscheid found that Meta’s platforms created serious risks for children and contributed to harm to their mental health.
The decision is the second major ruling against Meta in the same case and could lead to visible changes on Facebook and Instagram for younger users in New Mexico.
Meta has said it will appeal the ruling.
$420 Million Will Support Youth Treatment
Of the total $567 million amount, $420 million will be used to provide treatment services for young people, according to the judge.
The remaining money will be used for public awareness and prevention programs, screening services and other related costs over the next five years.
The decision means a large part of the money will directly support services aimed at helping young people affected by mental health problems.
New Mexico will also oversee how some of the programs and platform changes are carried out.
Facebook And Instagram Must Make Changes
The court also ordered Meta to make changes to Facebook and Instagram for young users.
The company will be required to create banners and information screens that clearly explain safety and protection features available on its platforms.
These screens will also provide information about recommended safety practices and tools that users can use when dealing with inappropriate comments or other harmful activity.
The judge ordered Meta to display this information regularly so young users and their families can better understand the safety tools available to them.
An educational campaign in New Mexico will also be part of the changes, and the state will review the measures introduced by Meta.
Prosecutors Sought Stronger Youth Protections
Prosecutors had asked the court to order major changes to Meta’s platforms.
They wanted the company to reduce features that they said could encourage addictive use, improve age verification systems and introduce stronger protections against child sexual exploitation.
They also asked for stronger default privacy settings and closer monitoring of the company’s safety systems.
The case has raised wider questions about how social media companies design their platforms and how much responsibility they should have for protecting young users.
Jury Previously Ordered Meta To Pay $375 Million
The latest ruling follows another major decision against Meta earlier in 2026.
In March, a jury found that Meta had violated New Mexico’s consumer protection law by giving misleading information about the safety of Facebook and Instagram for young users.
The jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in damages.
That earlier part of the case focused on whether Meta had misrepresented the risks associated with its platforms.
The latest phase focused on a different legal question and examined whether Facebook and Instagram created what New Mexico law describes as a public nuisance.
Judge Heard Three Weeks Of Testimony
The second phase of the trial did not involve a jury.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid heard around three weeks of testimony before making the latest decision.
The court examined how Meta’s platforms affect young users and whether the design and operation of Facebook and Instagram created wider harm to the public.
The ruling concluded that Meta was responsible under New Mexico law and ordered both financial penalties and platform changes.
Meta Says It Will Appeal
Meta has rejected the findings and said it plans to appeal the ruling.
The company said it has been working to identify and remove harmful content from Facebook and Instagram.
Meta also said it remains confident in its efforts to protect teenagers online and will continue defending itself against claims it believes do not accurately represent its safety record.
The appeal process could determine whether the full financial penalty and platform requirements remain in place.
Case Being Watched Across The United States
The New Mexico case is being closely followed across the United States because several states, cities, school districts and other authorities are pursuing similar legal action against social media companies.
Many of these cases focus on concerns about the effect of social media on children and teenagers, including mental health, addictive platform design, privacy and online safety.
The outcome in New Mexico could influence future cases and increase pressure on major technology companies to introduce stronger protections for young users.
Why The Ruling Matters
The decision is significant because it goes beyond financial penalties.
The court is also requiring changes to the way Meta communicates safety information and protection tools to young users.
If the ruling remains in place after Meta’s appeal, Facebook and Instagram users in New Mexico could see new safety banners, information screens and education campaigns designed specifically for younger users.
The case may also add to growing pressure on social media companies across the United States to make youth safety a bigger part of how their platforms are designed and operated.
Published Aug 7 in Business