International
Meta ordered to pay $567 million for mental harm to youth
A court in New Mexico has held Meta liable for mental health damage to youth and ordered it to make its platforms safer.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has been ordered by a court in the U.S. state of New Mexico to pay $567 million, which is approximately €492 million. This fine is the highest that Meta has ever received regarding the safety of children on its platforms.
The court ruled that Meta is responsible for the mental harm that youths have suffered due to the use of its social media. This ruling comes in response to concerns about the impact of social media on the mental health of young users.
In addition to the financial penalty, Meta must also take measures to improve the safety of its platforms, specifically focusing on addiction prevention for young people. This means that the company needs to make its services less addictive, at least in New Mexico.
Previously, Meta received a hefty fine of €1.3 billion for other violations, but this new ruling specifically addresses the company's responsibility for the mental health of children and adolescents.
This is the first time that such a lawsuit has resulted in such a high compensation award, indicating how seriously the court takes the damage to the mental health of youth.