Meta has been ordered by a US court in New Mexico to pay an additional $567 million for failing to adequately warn the public about the risks its platforms pose to children. The penalty is the largest fine imposed on the tech giant over youth safety failures, according to the BBC.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid described Meta as a “public nuisance”, drawing a comparison between the harms caused by its platforms and environmental pollution. The latest penalty follows a previous $375 million fine in the same case, taking Meta’s total financial liability to $942 million.
The judge directed that the latest penalty be placed in a dedicated remediation fund to address the impact of social media-related harms on children. Around $420 million will be used to fund clinical and behavioural health programmes and professionals, while the remaining amount will support prevention and awareness initiatives for teachers and healthcare workers.
In his ruling, Biedscheid compared Meta’s platforms to an industrial facility, stating that psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children represent the “pollution” that needs to be addressed.
Meta has rejected the ruling and said it will appeal. A company spokesperson defended its efforts to protect users, saying Meta has been transparent about the challenges involved in identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content. The company also said it remains confident in its record of protecting teenagers online.
The case stems from a 2023 lawsuit filed by New Mexico state prosecutors, who alleged that Meta’s algorithms directed minors towards explicit content and interactions with predators, in violation of the state’s Unfair Practices Act.
Alongside the financial penalty, the court has ordered several operational changes across Meta’s platforms. These include restricting adults from messaging or receiving recommendations for accounts belonging to users under 18, prohibiting minors from sending or receiving nude media, and introducing a one-strike policy for adult users involved in child sexual exploitation.
The ruling also requires Meta to remove publicly visible like counts for users under 18 and disable push notifications for minors between 10 PM and 7 AM, as well as during weekday school hours. Usage of Instagram and Facebook by minors will also be subject to a limit of 90 cumulative hours per month, or three hours per day.
The ruling comes amid growing global scrutiny of social media platforms and their impact on children and teenagers. Former Twitter vice president Bruce Daisley told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that although the penalty may be relatively small compared with Meta’s revenues, it signals a broader shift towards greater regulation of social media.
Former UK safeguarding minister Jess Phillips also said court victories in the US could give other governments greater scope to introduce stricter online safety regulations.
Meta has faced other legal setbacks over the alleged impact of its platforms on young users, including a separate Los Angeles case involving algorithm-driven platform addiction. Meanwhile, countries including Australia, Malaysia, Denmark and the UK are pursuing tighter restrictions on social media access for children and teenagers.
