- A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million in a child safety case.
- The court mandated that Meta must remove Like counts for minors without parental approval.
- Push notifications to underaged users in New Mexico must be paused between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and usage limited to 90 hours per month (about three hours per day).
- The judge ruled that Meta's platforms are a public nuisance causing harm to youth, acknowledging that they contribute to a mental health crisis.
- State Attorney General Raul Torrez stated that Meta prioritized profit over the safety of children, holding the company accountable for its actions.
A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million in a child safety case, raising the total fines to $942 million. The ruling addresses significant concerns over social media's impact on youth, particularly regarding mental health and safety.1
The court mandated that Meta remove Like counts for users under 18 unless approved by a parent or guardian. Additionally, push notifications for minors must be paused between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and limited to 90 hours a month, equating to about three hours daily.3
The judge noted that while Meta is not the sole contributor to the youth mental health crisis, its platforms significantly exacerbate the issue, creating a “public nuisance” in New Mexico. The ruling aims to hold Meta accountable for the harm caused to children, families, and schools.4
State Attorney General Raul Torrez criticized Meta, stating, “For years, Meta knew its platforms were harming New Mexico’s kids... and it chose engagement and profit over their safety.” In response, Meta announced plans to appeal the judgment, asserting its commitment to user safety and transparency.56
This ruling follows a previous court decision in March, which also found against Meta for fostering addictive behaviors among users.
“The court also mandated that push notifications to underage users be paused between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and limited their usage to 90 hours per month. State Attorney General Raul Torrez said Meta knew its platforms were harming kids and chose engagement and profit over safety.”
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