New Mexico Court Orders Meta to Fund $567 Million for Youth Harm From Social Media

A New Mexico court ordered Meta to establish a $567 million fund to address harms linked to children's use of Facebook and Instagram, the remedy phase of a case the state brought over the platforms' effects on minors' mental health.

Of the fund, $420 million is earmarked for treatment programs for young people affected by social-media-related harms, with the remainder directed toward prevention efforts. The order comes on top of a separate $375 million fine levied against Meta in March 2026 for violating New Mexico's consumer protection laws in an earlier phase of the same case.

The ruling adds to a growing list of legal and regulatory pressures facing major social platforms over child safety, following years of internal research, whistleblower disclosures, and state-level lawsuits alleging that recommendation algorithms and engagement-driven design contributed to anxiety, depression, and addictive use among teenage users.