Explainer-How could New Mexico's $567 million ruling change Meta?

In a landmark ruling on August 7, a New Mexico state court ordered Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay $567 million into a fund dedicated to teen mental health prevention and treatment. This is the largest monetary penalty in a series of U.S. lawsuits alleging that social media platforms harm young people.

The Santa Fe court also imposed numerous measures on Meta, including stricter age verification, limiting social media usage for users under 18, and removing certain features. The judge found Meta had created a public nuisance by designing platforms that addicted young users and did not adequately protect them from sexual exploitation. However, the company plans to appeal the ruling.