New Mexico Court Orders Meta to Pay Additional $567M in Child Safety Case
Original: New Mexico court orders Meta to pay additional $567M in child safety case
Why This Matters
The $942M cumulative fine signals escalating legal and regulatory pressure on major social platforms over youth safety.
A New Mexico court on August 7, 2026 ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million fine in a child safety and social media addiction case, bringing the total fines to $942 million. The court also mandated platform changes including usage limits and notification restrictions for minors.
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million in additional fines on Thursday, August 7, 2026, on top of the $375 million already levied in March, bringing the total to $942 million in a case centered on social media harms and addiction among youth. Beyond the financial penalties, the court ordered operational changes to Meta's platforms within the state: Like counts must be hidden from users under 18 unless a parent or guardian approves their visibility; push notifications to minors must be paused between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.; and usage must be capped at 90 hours per month — roughly three hours per day. The order stated that 'significant numbers of people in New Mexico experience harm from Meta's products due to risks of sexual exploitation, interference with education, and adverse mental health outcomes.' The judge found Meta responsible for a significant 'public nuisance' in the state. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the company will appeal and maintains it has 'been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors.' New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said Meta 'chose engagement and profit over' children's safety. This ruling follows a similar loss for Meta in Los Angeles in March. Meta also faces a consolidated federal lawsuit from 33 states in Oakland, California, as well as separate cases in states including Tennessee.