New Mexico Court Penalizes Meta $567 Million Over Child Safety

Judge Bryan Biedscheid’s decision mandates that Meta cap usage for users under 18 to 90 hours per month, including a ban on certain push notifications during school hours. The court also ordered the platform to hide “like” counts and implement stricter age-verification measures for children under 13. These requirements follow a jury’s earlier finding that the company violated state consumer protection laws by misleading families about product safety.

Approximately three-fourths of the $567 million judgment will fund mental health treatment programs over the next five years, while the remainder supports youth awareness and prevention initiatives. Attorney General Raul Torrez characterized the ruling as a significant accountability measure against a company that prioritized engagement features—such as infinite scrolling and algorithmic recommendations—despite internal knowledge of the risks posed to young users.

Meta has vowed to appeal the decision, maintaining that it remains committed to teen safety and arguing that the court’s findings misrepresent its operational record. This case serves as a bellwether for more than 30 other U.S. states currently pursuing similar litigation. With a major trial scheduled to open in California next week, the legal pressure on Meta continues to intensify as courts increasingly scrutinize how social media design impacts adolescent mental health.