Can a social media platform be treated like a polluting factory?
A US judge believes the answer is yes. In a landmark ruling, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay an additional $567 million.
The ruling pushes the company’s total penalty in the state’s child safety case to $942 million.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid said Meta’s platforms had become a “public nuisance.”
He compared them to factories where harmful pollution spreads far beyond their walls.
In this case, he argued, that “pollution” is the psychological harm and sexual exploitation affecting children.
The lawsuit, filed by New Mexico in 2023, accused Meta of exposing young users to harmful content and predators through its recommendation algorithms.
The judge ruled that the damage extends beyond the apps themselves, impacting families, schools, hospitals and law enforcement.
Child Safety Case Sets Precedent
Most of the money will fund mental health treatment, prevention programmes and education.
The court also ordered stricter protections, including blocking adults from messaging minors and removing “like” counts for users under 18.
It also ordered limiting late-night notifications and capping screen time at about three hours per day.
Meta rejected the decision, saying it would appeal. “We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms,” a company spokesperson said.
The case could reshape how courts view social media responsibility.
One thing is certain: the debate over who should protect children online is only getting louder.
