CNBC

Meta ordered to pay $567 million into abatement fund as remedy to child harms case in New Mexico

Fox5Sandiego

Court orders Instagram and Facebook’s Meta to pay $567M to address kids’ mental health online

New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay $567 million into a child mental health fund

Financial Times

US court tells Meta to pay nearly $1bn penalty over social media harm to children

The New York Times

Meta Ordered to Pay $567 Million in New Mexico Child Safety Case

ShowsAli

andymstone

Kentuckygirl1

orskyai

The Wall Street Journal

Meta Ordered To Pay 942 Million To Address Harm To Kids From Social Media 8Ba5Aab7

The Times (UK)

Verifying Device

BBC News

Meta told to pay another $567m in New Mexico child safety lawsuit

Metaculus

Meta Reports 1B Active Users by 2031

New Mexico Department of Justice

Statement From Attorney General Raul Torrez On Final Judgment In State Of New Mexico V Meta

A New Mexico judge on Thursday ordered Meta to pay $567 million into an abatement fund, finding the company's platforms a public nuisance in the second phase of a landmark trial. The ruling brings Meta's total liability in the case to $942 million, following <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/meta-hit-with-m-fine-over-child-safety-failures">a $375 million penalty imposed in March</a>.

A New Mexico judge on Thursday ordered Meta to pay $567 million into an abatement fund, finding the company's platforms a public nuisance in the second phase of a landmark trial. The ruling brings Meta's total liability in the case to $942 million, following a $375 million penalty imposed in March.

The March verdict found Meta had knowingly harmed children's mental health and concealed knowledge of child sexual exploitation on its platforms. New Mexico was the first state to take Meta to trial, and the company now faces a separate trial in Oakland, California.

Guardian

The March verdict found Meta had knowingly harmed children's mental health and concealed knowledge of child sexual exploitation on its platforms. New Mexico was the first state to take Meta to trial, and the company now faces a separate trial in Oakland, California.

Of the $567 million ordered Thursday, $420 million is directed toward treatment services for young people, while the remaining funds are allocated to awareness, prevention, screening and assessment over five years. Meta said it disagrees with the ruling and plans to appeal.

Of the $567 million ordered Thursday, $420 million is directed toward treatment services for young people, while the remaining funds are allocated to awareness, prevention, screening and assessment over five years. Meta said it disagrees with the ruling and plans to appeal.

The ruling requires Meta to restrict push notifications for users under 18 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays during the school year and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on all other days, and cap their monthly platform use at 90 hours. Meta must also develop an AI-based prediction model for users under 13 within two years.

The ruling requires Meta to restrict push notifications for users under 18  between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays during the school year and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on all other days, and cap their monthly platform use at 90 hours. Meta must also develop an AI-based prediction model for users under 13 within two years.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid wrote that Meta's platforms are "a significant contributing factor to the current mental health crisis among New Mexico's youth," citing higher rates of depressive episodes, eating disorders and rising suicide rates among adolescents.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid wrote that Meta's platforms are "a significant contributing factor to the current mental health crisis among New Mexico's youth," citing higher rates of depressive episodes, eating disorders and rising suicide rates among adolescents.

The judge declined to order changes to Meta's recommendation algorithms, citing potential conflicts with First Amendment protections and Section 230. The court also noted that Meta's WhatsApp was not considered a contributing cause to the public nuisance.

The judge declined to order changes to Meta's recommendation algorithms, citing potential conflicts with First Amendment protections and Section 230. The court also noted that Meta's WhatsApp was not considered a contributing cause to the public nuisance.

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The ruling requires Meta to restrict push notifications for users under 18 between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and cap their monthly platform use at 90 hours. Meta must also develop an AI-based prediction model for users under 13 within two years.

The ruling requires Meta to restrict push notifications for users under 18 between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and cap their monthly platform use at 90 hours. Meta must also develop an AI-based prediction model for users under 13 within two years.

The largest child safety ruling against a social media company just landed, and Meta was classified as a public nuisance — like digital pollution poisoning kids. Removing like counts, banning late-night push notifications and capping underage usage at 90 hours a month are long-overdue protections that set a powerful precedent.

The largest child safety ruling against a social media company just landed, and Meta was classified as a public nuisance — like digital pollution poisoning kids. Removing like counts, banning late-night push notifications and capping underage usage at 90 hours a month are long-overdue protections that set a powerful precedent.

Ali Moheyaldeen

This ruling misrepresents the facts and ignores the genuine work Meta has done to protect teens online. Meta has been transparent about the real challenges of identifying harmful content and bad actors — challenges no platform has perfectly solved. Meta is appealing because a $942 million penalty built on a flawed legal framework helps no one.

This ruling misrepresents the facts and ignores the genuine work Meta has done to protect teens online. Meta has been transparent about the real challenges of identifying harmful content and bad actors — challenges no platform has perfectly solved. Meta is appealing because a $942 million penalty built on a flawed legal framework helps no one.

Andy Stone

Even nearly a billion dollars may barely register for a company of Meta's size. These penalties become another business expense, reinforcing a simple warning for parents: keep your kids off social media whenever possible. Until financial consequences outweigh profits, meaningful change will remain elusive while families continue to bear the greatest costs.

Even nearly a billion dollars may barely register for a company of Meta's size. These penalties become another business expense, reinforcing a simple warning for parents: keep your kids off social media whenever possible. Until financial consequences outweigh profits, meaningful change will remain elusive while families continue to bear the greatest costs.

Kentucky Girl

Hüseyin Örskaya

There's a 20% chance that Meta will report 1 billion active users by Dec. 31, 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 20% chance that Meta will report 1 billion active users by Dec. 31, 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Meta Ordered to Pay $942M Over Youth Harm

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Meta Ordered to Pay $942M Over Youth Harm

Crime & justice

The largest child safety ruling against a social media company just landed, and Meta was classified as a public nuisance — not a metaphor, but a legal finding backed by evidence of a worsening youth mental health crisis. Removing like counts, banning late-night push notifications and capping underage usage at 90 hours a month are long-overdue protections that set a powerful precedent.

The largest child safety ruling against a social media company just landed, and Meta was classified as a public nuisance — not a metaphor, but a legal finding backed by evidence of a worsening youth mental health crisis. Removing like counts, banning late-night push notifications and capping underage usage at 90 hours a month are long-overdue protections that set a powerful precedent.

Meta Ordered to Pay $942M Over Youth Harm

Meta Ordered to Pay $942M Over Youth Harm

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Meta Ordered to Pay $942M Over Youth Harm

Meta Ordered to Pay $942M Over Youth Harm

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