Court orders Instagram and Facebook's Meta to pay $567M to address kids' mental health online | WNYC

A New Mexico court ordered Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, to pay $567 million in the second phase of a landmark trial over alleged harms to children online. Judge Bryan Biedscheid said $420 million of the penalty will fund treatment services for young people, with the remainder going to awareness, prevention, screening services, and other costs over the next five years. The new amount follows $375 million in civil penalties ordered in March after jurors found Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed knowledge about child sexual exploitation. Prosecutors sought requirements aimed at curbing addictive features, improving age verification, and strengthening default privacy protections. Meta said it will appeal.