SANTA FE — A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta Platforms Inc. to pay $567 million into an abatement fund to address harms its social media platforms caused to young people, after a jury found the company violated the state's unfair practices act.
The payment follows a $375 million fine levied against Meta in March, bringing the total ordered in the case to $942 million.
The abatement fund is designed to support youth mental health and online safety programs.
The jury found Meta failed to adequately warn the public about dangers its platforms posed to children—a finding that underpinned the court's penalty.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has faced mounting legal scrutiny over the impact of its services on younger users. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has faced repeated questions about safety measures across his company's platforms.
The $567 million order is among the largest amounts levied in a state-level child safety lawsuit against a major social media company.
The ruling adds to pressure from Washington, where lawmakers from both parties have called for greater accountability from tech companies on child safety. Legislative efforts continue in Congress to establish federal standards for online platforms, including potential age verification mandates and stricter content moderation requirements.
Meta's stock traded at $591.28, up 0.2 percent, as the company absorbs the legal costs.
