Meta ordered to pay $942M to address harm to kids from social media
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The New Mexico ruling piles fresh penalties on Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, marking a landmark moment for kids’ online safety.
A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $942 million over harm caused to children on its platforms. Judge Bryan Biedscheid issued the ruling Thursday. It builds on a $375 million jury verdict from March. The ruling adds $567 million to fund an abatement scheme. It earmarks $420 million for treatment services.
Meta must also overhaul how it operates. The company must strengthen age verification. Users under 18 now face a 90-hour monthly cap across Facebook and Instagram. Meta must switch off push notifications for younger users too.
Meta’s stock barely flinched. It dipped under half a percent in after-hours trading. Still, analysts say this ruling could open the floodgates. Thousands of families are already pursuing similar claims. An industry that thrives on engagement may now face its biggest reckoning yet.
