Meta fined $567m in largest child safety ruling against social media giant

Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg demonstrated the Ray-Ban Meta glasses in September 2025

Audio By Carbonatix

A US judge in New Mexico on Thursday ordered Meta to pay another $567m (£421m) for its failure to warn the public about dangers its platforms posed to children, marking the largest ruling against the company over child safety.

Judge Bryan Biedscheid said the social media giant is a "public nuisance" akin to air pollution and that it must put the money in a fund aimed at reducing future harms.

The ruling is in addition to $375m in fines Meta was already ordered to pay in the case.

Judge Biedscheid compared Meta to a factory, with advertising and content as its product and "the psychological harm and sexual exploitation of children to be the pollution that must be abated".

Meta, which owns and operates Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Threads, has been contacted by the BBC for comment.

Regarding the earlier $375m verdict against Meta in the case, Meta had said it intended to appeal the ruling.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Tags:

child safety ruling