A New Mexico state court judge has delivered a substantial blow to **Meta**, ordering the company to pay $567 million and overhaul its platforms to better protect youth. This decision marks a significant development in a long-running legal battle focusing on the detrimental effects of social media on children. The allocated funds will establish a dedicated resource to address social media-related harms. A substantial portion, $420 million, is earmarked for treatment services for New Mexico youth affected by platform usage. The remaining balance will be used for public awareness campaigns and preventative measures. ### A Bellwether Case for Future Litigation This case is considered a bellwether, being the first of dozens brought against **Meta** by state attorneys general across the U.S. Its outcome could significantly influence the trajectory of ongoing and future legal challenges. In a related finding in March, a jury in the New Mexico case previously issued a separate $375 million fine against **Meta**. The jury concluded that **Meta** had misled users regarding the safety of **Instagram** and **Facebook** and facilitated the sexual exploitation of minors. ### Meta Labeled a 'Public Nuisance' Judge **Bryan Biedscheid** of Santa Fe-based state court articulated in his opinion that "Although **Meta** is not alone in this regard, its social media platforms are a significant contributing factor to the current mental health crisis among New Mexico’s youth established by the substantial evidence in this case." He further labeled **Meta** a "public nuisance." ### New Restrictions on Youth Engagement The judge's ruling includes specific mandates for **Meta**'s platforms concerning New Mexico youth. These include: * Prohibiting push notifications between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. * Limiting youth users' engagement to a maximum of 90 hours per month. Additionally, **Facebook** and **Instagram** are required to implement public awareness screens that explain their child protection features and provide other relevant safety information. ### Meta Plans to Appeal **Meta** has stated its disagreement with the ruling and announced its intention to appeal. A company spokesperson commented, "We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and have been transparent about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors and harmful content. We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts." ### Broader Legal Challenges for Meta This New Mexico decision comes amidst a wave of legal challenges for **Meta**. In March, a California jury found **Meta** and **YouTube** responsible for a young girl’s social media addiction, which allegedly impacted her mental health, awarding her $6 million. **Meta** also faces at least 1,200 lawsuits from various school districts. In May, the company settled with a Kentucky district that had argued **Meta** should help fund mental health and academic interventions for children harmed by its platforms.