A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $567 million to address harms to young people on its platforms, following a previous $375 million civil penalty.

A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay $567 million to address the impact of its platforms on young people. Judge Bryan Biedscheid ruled that $420 million will fund treatment services, while the remainder will support prevention, screening, and awareness efforts over the next five years. This penalty follows a $375 million civil judgment issued in March, bringing the total amount Meta is responsible for in the state to $942 million.

Court-Ordered Operational Changes

The court mandated that Meta implement several operational changes, including the display of informational banners explaining protection features and tools for managing comments. While the court declined to order specific age-verification requirements due to federal privacy laws and concerns regarding equitable treatment, it directed Meta to improve its artificial intelligence-based age assurance tools. Meta is also required to develop an under-13 prediction model within two years and establish a reporting portal for schools to flag potentially underage users.

Broader Legal Challenges

Meta faces a wave of litigation across the United States, including a federal multi-district lawsuit filed in 2023 by 29 states. A trial involving the first four of these states is scheduled to begin later this month in Oakland, California. Additionally, the company is currently involved in state-level litigation in Tennessee and faces lawsuits from families alleging that social media use contributed to the deaths of four teenagers by suicide.