Meta public nuisance ruling orders $567 million youth mental health fund
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to finance a five-year $567 million abatement fund; the company plans to appeal.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
A New Mexico judge’s Meta public nuisance ruling requires the company to put $567 million into a five-year fund for youth mental-health treatment and related services. The order matters because it is separate from $375 million in civil penalties already assessed in the same case, though Meta says it will appeal.
Santa Fe County District Judge Bryan Biedscheid found that Meta substantially contributed to a public nuisance tied to New Mexico’s youth mental-health crisis, according to Ars Technica and ABC News. The court said harms associated with the company’s platforms had strained schools, law enforcement, health providers and other public resources.
The ruling stems from a 2023 lawsuit brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. It was the second, judge-decided stage of the litigation; the first stage went to a jury and concerned claims under the state’s Unfair Practices Act.
What does the Meta public nuisance ruling require?
The $567 million is an abatement fund, meaning money designated to address harm the court found had occurred, rather than a conventional civil fine. It is intended to cover five years of services. Judge Biedscheid rejected the state’s request for 15 years of funding and declined to require Meta to build new community health facilities, Ars Technica reported.
- $420 million for treatment
- $90 million for screening and assessment
- $33 million for awareness and prevention
- $15 million for referrals and care coordination
- $9 million for program oversight and evaluation
ABC News reported that the court tied its finding to engagement-focused features including endless scrolling, autoplay, notifications and content recommendations. The judge said the platforms’ risks included adverse mental-health outcomes, disruption to education and sexual exploitation, according to Ars Technica.
The court also ordered changes affecting younger users of Facebook and Instagram, reports from the BBC and DW said. Those measures include restrictions concerning adult contact with minors, teen notifications and platform use, along with other safety protections.
How does this differ from Meta’s earlier $375 million penalty?
In March, a jury found Meta committed 75,000 violations of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act and imposed $375 million in civil penalties, ABC News reported. That phase centered on findings that the company misled consumers and parents about the safety of its platforms for children.
The latest ruling addresses the state’s separate request to require Meta to reduce the public harm the court found. Together, the two orders total $942 million, but neither amount should be treated as paid or final while the appeal proceeds.
Meta said it disagreed with the decision and would appeal. The company said it works to keep people safe on its platforms, has been transparent about challenges in finding and removing harmful content and remains confident in its efforts to protect teenagers.
Torrez said the judgment was about protecting children and holding the company accountable. He has said he expects the appeals process could take months or years, ABC News reported.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.