Judge rules Meta caused "public nuisance" and must fund mental health treatment
New Mexico judge orders $567M fund to help address youth mental health crisis.
In a recent ruling, a judge in New Mexico has ordered the social media conglomerate Meta to allocate $567 million for a fund dedicated to addressing "public nuisance" caused by its services, particularly impacting youth mental health. This additional sum is added to the $375 million in civil penalties previously imposed on Meta in the same case.
The lawsuit was initiated by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez in 2023. In March 2026, a jury concluded that Meta's social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, failed to adequately safeguard minors from exploitation and had misled parents about the safety of their apps, resulting in civil damages. This ruling marks the second phase of the litigation, wherein Judge Bryan Biedscheid affirmed the $567 million judgment.
The judgment arose from the State's Unfair Practices Act claims and subsequent civil penalties. Meanwhile, Meta reported a significant revenue of $60.8 billion and net income of $15.85 billion in the second quarter of 2026.
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