Meta Ordered to Pay $942M to Address Harm to Kids from Social Media

A New Mexico judge ordered Meta Platforms Inc. to pay $567 million and imposed a 90-hour monthly limit on minors' social media use, ruling the company's platforms are a significant contributing factor to a youth mental health crisis. Judge Bryan Biedscheid wrote that the penalty will safeguard minors and fund state mental health treatment programs. The order adds to a $375 million penalty imposed in March, bringing the total to $942 million. The earlier sum was based on the maximum penalty of $5,000 per violation under New Mexico law. The ruling applies to Instagram and Facebook, while WhatsApp was excluded. A Meta spokesperson said the company disagrees with the ruling and will appeal. The spokesperson said Meta works hard to keep people safe and remains confident in its record of protecting teens online. Attorney General Raul Torrez said the decision is a victory for parents worried about social media's effects on children and for children who deserve to grow up safer online. He said the case has always been about protecting children and ensuring the company cannot profit from practices that endanger young people without consequence.