A New Mexico State Judge Orders Meta to Pay $567 Million for Children’s Mental Health Fund
A New Mexico state judge on August 6th issued a ruling that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, must pay $567 million into a fund dedicated to addressing the harm caused to children’s mental health by the company’s social media platforms.
In a 68-page order, State judge Bryan Biedscheid stated that the majority of the fund, amounting to $420 million, will be allocated towards treatment services for children impacted by social media. The remaining funds will be used for awareness and prevention, screening and assessment, referrals and coordination, and implementation.
“The Court finds that the weight of the evidence presented demonstrates that Meta’s platforms are a cause of and substantial contributing factor to the youth mental health crisis in New Mexico,” Judge Biedscheid wrote.
In addition to the financial penalty, Judge Biedscheid ordered Meta to delete accounts of users under 13 and erase all personal information collected from those accounts. The company was also instructed to disable push notifications for users under 18 during specific hours and implement usage time limits.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez praised the ruling, emphasizing the importance of creating a safer online environment for children.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone expressed disagreement with the ruling and announced plans to appeal, citing the company’s efforts to combat harmful content on its platforms.
This recent penalty follows a previous $375 million fine imposed on Meta in March for failing to disclose risks associated with its social media platforms to children, as mandated by New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act.
The lawsuit against Meta was filed in December 2023, alleging that the company’s platforms facilitated predatory behavior targeting children. Meta denied the allegations, highlighting its use of technology and collaboration with law enforcement to enhance child safety.
Source: The Epoch Times