In a groundbreaking decision, a US judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million for failing to protect children on its platforms. This ruling brings the total penalty to a staggering $942 million marking the largest fine ever imposed on a social media company for child safety violations.
The case, brought by the State of New Mexico, alleges that Meta’s platforms, including InstagramFacebookWhatsApp and Threads have exposed children to sexually explicit material and contact with sexual predators. Judge Bryan Biedscheid described Meta as a public nuisance comparing it to a factory emitting harmful pollution.
Meta’s Platforms Compared to Polluting Factories
Judge Biedscheid drew a striking parallel between Meta’s platforms and factories, stating that advertising and content are its product, and the psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children are the pollution that must be abated. This analogy underscores the widespread impact of Meta’s platforms on children’s well-being and public health.
The judge ordered Meta to establish a fund to mitigate the wide-ranging impacts of the harm caused by its platforms. A significant portion of the fine, $420 million will be allocated to treatment programs for affected children, while the remaining funds will support training for teachers and health professionals on dealing with social media harms.
Meta’s Response and Upcoming Legal Challenges
Meta has vehemently disagreed with the ruling and plans to appeal. A spokesman for the company 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. Meta maintains confidence in its record of protecting teens online and intends to defend itself against what it perceives as misrepresentations of the facts.
This ruling is not an isolated incident. Meta is currently facing thousands of lawsuits across the US for similar issues. Earlier this year, the company lost a case in Los Angeles with comparable claims. Additionally, next week, a major trial will commence in California, where nearly three dozen US states’ attorneys general are suing Meta for violating child privacy laws.
Specific Measures Ordered by the Judge
In addition to the substantial fine, Judge Biedscheid ordered Meta to implement several measures to enhance child safety on its platforms. These include:
- Ensuring that no account of a user under age 18 is recommended to an adult and that no adult can message an underage user.
- Banning the sending or receiving of nudity by underage users.
- Enacting a 1-strike policy for adult users who engage in child sexual exploitation.
- Eliminating like counts for users under 18.
- Banning push notifications for underage users between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM and during school hours, except on weekends.
- Implementing a mandatory usage limit of 90 cumulative hours per month across Instagram and Facebook for users under 18, averaging about three hours per day.
The New Mexico case stems from a 2026 lawsuit that accused Meta of repeatedly violating the state’s Unfair Practices Act. The trial’s first phase concluded that Meta’s recommendation algorithms steered young users toward harmful content and contacts. This ruling represents the first time a state has successfully sued Meta over child safety issues.
As Meta continues to face legal challenges, the company’s ability to protect its youngest users remains under intense scrutiny. The record fine and unprecedented measures ordered by the judge highlight the urgent need for social media platforms to prioritize child safety and address the harmful impacts of their algorithms.
