Meta will appeal: New Mexico child-safety penalty hits $942 million

Meta Platforms said it plans to appeal August 2026’s ruling in the case over alleged harm to minors on Facebook and Instagram. The new ruling adds $567 million to the $375 million verdict issued in March 2026, bringing Meta’s total penalty in the state to $942 million.

In that August 2026 decision, a New Mexico judge said Meta created a public nuisance by contributing to harm to young people’s mental health and by enabling child exploitation on Facebook and Instagram. That’s a legal theory courts have used more often in tobacco and opioid cases.

New Mexico says Meta built addictive features that kept children engaged while failing to protect minors from harmful content and sexual predators. The court said the extra $567 million should pay for treatment, awareness, and prevention programs.

If you’ve been following child-safety lawsuits against social platforms, this appeal is one to watch. Meta denies the broader accusations and says it will challenge both the court’s reasoning and the size of the penalty.

The ruling also requires stronger age verification, time limits for minors, and restrictions on overnight push notifications. It does not, according to the August 2026 ruling, force changes to Meta’s core recommendation algorithms.

The case focuses on Facebook and Instagram in New Mexico. With more than 40 states already suing Meta, the public nuisance finding could influence the wider set of lawsuits.