New Mexico Court Rules Against Meta for Youth Mental Health Crisis
A court in New Mexico ruled on Thursday that Facebook and Instagram contribute to the state’s youth mental health crisis, necessitating Meta to pay $567 million and implement significant protective measures for teenage users.
This decision follows a jury verdict in March, which had already mandated Meta to pay $375 million for infringing state unfair practices laws, bringing Meta’s total liability in this case to nearly $942 million.
Judge Brian Biedscheidt determined that Meta created a public nuisance. He ordered the company to introduce a series of safety measures aimed at protecting younger users over the next five years.
These measures include setting monthly limits on usage for teens, restricting notifications, enhancing controls for adult interactions with minors, improving safety features for AI chatbots, and intensifying the review process for reports of child sexual abuse.
In a statement to FOX Business, Meta expressed disagreement with the ruling and stated its intention to appeal. A spokesperson mentioned, “We work hard to keep people safe on our platform and have been transparent about the challenges we face in identifying and removing harmful content.” They also emphasized confidence in their efforts to protect youth online.
The court supported New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torres, who accused Meta of designing their products in a way that fosters addiction among young users, while inadequately safeguarding children from exploitation on its platforms.
Torres remarked that the awarded $567 million would finance New Mexico’s intervention plan and be added to the earlier civil penalty of $375 million. He criticized Meta for prioritizing engagement and profit over the safety of children, declaring, “Today, the meta is paying the price for that choice.”
He described the ruling as a potential model for other states planning similar lawsuits against social media companies.
After three weeks of testimony in the trial, which was distinct from the previous one—this time not involving a jury—the focus lay on whether Meta’s platform constitutes a public nuisance under state law.
Biedscheidt highlighted the harm caused by Meta’s platform, comparing it to pollution from a factory, which he stated undermines basic rights to safety and health among citizens.
New Mexico initiated the lawsuit in 2023, claiming that Meta created an environment conducive to child predators and misled users regarding security on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
