A US court has ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million (around SGD760 million) over claims that its social media platforms failed to properly protect children from online harms.
The decision was made by Judge Bryan Biedscheid in New Mexico, where the court found that Meta’s platforms created risks for young users. The ruling is the largest child safety-related penalty against the company, which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.
The latest penalty adds to an earlier $375 million (around SGD503 million) fine ordered in the same case. This brings the total amount Meta has been ordered to pay to $942 million (around SGD1.26 billion).
Court Raises Child Safety Concerns
Meta has been sued in 2023 by the New Mexico state government due to its alleged permitting of children to view inappropriate material and interact with others in unsafe ways on its platforms. During the case, prosecutors argued that Meta’s recommendation systems could guide young users toward harmful material and possible contact with unsafe individuals.
Judge Biedscheid compared Meta’s platforms to a factory, saying that advertising and online content were its products, while the harm experienced by children was similar to pollution that needed to be reduced. The judge ruled that Meta’s actions reached the level of a “public nuisance,” meaning the issue affected not only individual users but also families, schools, and wider communities.
Meta Plans to Appeal
Meta disagreed with the court’s decision and said it would appeal the ruling. The company said it has worked to improve safety features and remove harmful content from its platforms. A Meta spokesperson said the company remains confident in its efforts to protect teenagers online and claimed that some accusations did not fully represent the company’s actions.
The company is currently facing thousands of similar lawsuits across the United States over concerns about child safety, privacy, and the design of social media platforms. The New Mexico case is one of several legal challenges against major technology companies over how their services affect younger users.
New Rules Ordered for Protection
As part of the ruling, Meta must create a fund to support programs aimed at reducing the impact of online harm on children. A large portion of the money, about $420 million (around SGD 563 million), will support healthcare and behavioral programs.
The court also ordered Meta to introduce additional safety measures for users under 18. These include preventing adults from messaging underage users and stopping younger users from sending or receiving nude content.
Other requirements include limiting notifications during certain hours, reducing engagement features such as “like” counts for teenagers, and introducing monthly usage limits for younger users.
The ruling comes as governments in several countries continue to review stronger online safety rules for children. Authorities in the United Kingdom and European Union are also considering measures to improve protections for young users on digital platforms. Meta’s latest legal challenge highlights growing global attention on how social media companies manage child safety and online risks.
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