Court mandates sweeping child safety reforms for Facebook and Instagram following landmark youth harm lawsuit.
A court in the US state of New Mexico has ordered Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay $567 million in damages and implement sweeping youth safety measures after finding that its social media platforms caused harm to young users.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, concludes the second phase of a landmark lawsuit brought by the State of New Mexico against the technology company.
The court found that Meta had created “a public nuisance” in the state and ordered the company to introduce a series of safeguards aimed at better protecting children and teenagers using its platforms.
Court Orders New Youth Safety Measures
Under the court’s ruling, Meta must implement a range of measures designed to strengthen protections for minors on Facebook and Instagram.
The mandated safeguards include:
• Monthly limits on teenagers’ use of Facebook and Instagram.
• Restrictions on notifications sent to users under the age of 18.
• Stronger controls to prevent unwanted contact between adults and children.
• Additional safety protections for artificial intelligence chatbots.
• Enhanced review procedures for reports involving child sexual abuse.
The measures are intended to reduce risks associated with excessive social media use and improve the protection of young users.
Earlier Jury Verdict
The latest ruling follows the first phase of the trial, concluded in March 2026, when a jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties.
The jury found that the company had violated New Mexico’s consumer protection law by misrepresenting the safety of Facebook and Instagram for children.
The second phase of the proceedings focused on remedies and additional damages, resulting in Thursday’s order requiring further financial penalties and operational changes.
Attorney General Welcomes Decision
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez described the judgment as a major victory for families and child safety.
He said the ruling represented an important step towards holding social media companies accountable for the impact of their platforms on young people.
“Today’s decision is a victory for every parent who has worried about what social media is doing to their child and every child who deserves to grow up safer online,” Torrez said in a statement.
Meta to Appeal
Meta said it disagrees with the court’s decision and intends to appeal the ruling.
A company spokesperson said Meta remains confident in its efforts to protect young users and will continue to defend itself against what it described as claims that misrepresent the facts.
Growing Scrutiny of Social Media Platforms
The New Mexico case is among the most significant legal challenges faced by Meta over the impact of its platforms on children and teenagers.
The ruling comes amid increasing regulatory and legal scrutiny of major social media companies in the United States, where lawmakers and regulators have intensified efforts to strengthen online safety standards, particularly for younger users.