New Mexico court orders Meta to pay $567 million for youth mental health harms
Judge rules Meta’s platforms created a 'public nuisance,' adding to $375 million penalty from earlier jury verdict
A New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a fund to address youth mental health harms caused by its social media platforms, marking one of the largest financial penalties ever imposed on the company for such issues.
The ruling, issued by Judge Bryan Biedscheid in Santa Fe County court on August 5, 2026, requires Meta to allocate the funds toward mitigating the "public nuisance" created by its platforms. This payment is in addition to a $375 million civil penalty levied by a jury in March 2026, which found Meta liable for knowingly harming children’s mental health and concealing risks related to child sexual exploitation.
The case was initiated by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez in 2023. In Phase 1 of the trial, a jury determined that Meta’s platforms failed to protect children from exploitation and violated state consumer protection laws by misleading parents about app safety. Phase 2, a bench trial, focused on the state’s request for abatement funds to address the broader public nuisance caused by Meta’s services.
Meta reported $60.8 billion in revenue and $15.85 billion in net income for the second quarter of 2026. The company stated, "We disagree with the ruling and will appeal."
Sources
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