Meta Fines Reach $942 Million in New Mexico Child Safety Case
A New Mexico judge added a $567 million Meta fine, lifting penalties to $942 million, and ordered youth safeguards as the company prepares its appeal.
Summary
In a ruling reported August 7, 2026, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million in a social media harm and addiction case, adding to a $375 million penalty imposed in March and bringing total fines to $942 million. The court also directed Meta to remove Like counts in the state, showing such metrics to children under 18 only with parental or guardian approval, suspend their push notifications from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and limit their platform use to 90 hours monthly, roughly three hours daily.
The order said significant numbers of New Mexicans face sexual exploitation, disrupted education and adverse mental health outcomes linked to Meta’s products. Although the judge said Meta is not the youth mental health crisis’s only cause, he found its platforms play a significant role and constitute a public nuisance requiring abatement. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the company will appeal, arguing it works to protect users, transparently addresses harmful actors and content, and disputes claims misrepresenting its teen safety record. Attorney General Raul Torrez accused Meta of prioritizing engagement and profit despite knowing its platforms harmed children. The ruling follows Meta’s March loss in Los Angeles over addictive design; it also faces a 33 state lawsuit consolidated in Oakland federal court and separate state cases, including Tennessee.
Positives
- $942 million in total penalties holds Meta financially accountable after the new $567 million judgment and March’s $375 million fine.
- 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. notification restrictions would reduce overnight interruptions for underage Meta users in New Mexico.
- 90 hours per month would cap minors’ platform use at roughly three hours daily.
- Parental or guardian approval would be required before children under 18 could see Like metrics.
- The order requires Meta to abate the public nuisance the judge found its platforms created in New Mexico.
Risks & concerns
- Significant numbers of New Mexicans experience sexual exploitation, educational interference and adverse mental health outcomes associated with Meta’s products, the order said.
- Meta’s fines now total $942 million in New Mexico, including $567 million ordered Thursday and $375 million levied in March.
- Meta plans to appeal, leaving the judgment and mandated platform changes subject to further litigation.
- The March Los Angeles loss found Meta created addictive patterns, adding to its mounting legal setbacks.
- A 33 state federal lawsuit in Oakland and separate cases including Tennessee create broader legal exposure for Meta.