A New Mexico court has ordered Meta Platforms to pay $567 million to address mental health harms suffered by children using its social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, in what legal experts are calling one of the most significant rulings against a technology company over youth online safety. The decision requires the funds to be directed toward a dedicated remediation fund.

The case centered on allegations that Meta's platforms were designed in ways that fostered addictive use among minors and contributed to documented mental health harms, including anxiety, depression, and self-harm. New Mexico brought the action as part of a broader wave of state-level legal efforts targeting major social media companies over their effects on children and teenagers.

The $567 million judgment is among the largest of its kind secured against a social media company in a child safety case. Courts and state attorneys general across the country have increasingly pursued Meta and other platforms over similar concerns, with New Mexico's case now setting a notable precedent for the scale of financial accountability that can be imposed.

Meta has faced mounting legal and regulatory scrutiny over its handling of underage users. Internal research that became public in prior years showed the company was aware of potential harms its platforms posed to younger users, particularly teenage girls, a detail that has featured prominently in related litigation nationwide.

The ruling adds to a growing list of legal and financial pressures on Meta related to child safety, following settlements and ongoing lawsuits in multiple other jurisdictions. It remains unclear whether Meta plans to appeal the New Mexico judgment.