In a significant legal development, a New Mexico court has mandated that Meta pay an additional $567 million in fines, supplementing the $375 million penalty imposed in March. This brings the total financial repercussions for the company to $942 million in relation to a case concerning social media harms and addiction.
Beyond the monetary penalties, the court has stipulated operational changes for Meta’s platforms within the state. These include the removal of Like counts, with such metrics being accessible to users under 18 only with parental or guardian approval. Additionally, push notifications to underage users are to be suspended between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and their usage is to be capped at 90 hours per month, averaging approximately three hours daily.
The court’s order highlighted the adverse effects of Meta’s products on New Mexico’s residents, citing risks such as sexual exploitation, educational interference, and negative mental health outcomes. While acknowledging that Meta is not the sole contributor to the youth mental health crisis in the state, the judge emphasized the company’s significant role and labeled its platforms as a “public nuisance” requiring remediation.
Meta has expressed its intention to appeal the ruling. Company spokesperson Andy Stone stated, “We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content. We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts.”
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez responded, “For years, Meta knew its platforms were harming New Mexico’s kids, from feeding a youth mental health crisis to connecting predators with children, and it chose engagement and profit over their safety. Today, Meta is paying for that choice. This judgment holds the company accountable for the damage it caused to our children, our families, and our schools, and it forces real changes to how Meta operates in New Mexico.”
This ruling follows a similar legal setback for Meta in Los Angeles in March, where the company was found liable for creating addictive patterns in its platforms. Additionally, Meta is contending with multiple lawsuits across the country, including a consolidated case involving 33 states in an Oakland, California federal court, and individual cases from states like Tennessee.
The escalating legal challenges underscore the growing scrutiny of social media platforms regarding their impact on youth mental health and safety. This case may set a precedent for future litigation and regulatory actions aimed at holding tech companies accountable for user well-being.
