Court orders Meta to pay $567 million over youth mental health claims
A California judge said most of the award will fund treatment services for young people after a case involving Instagram and Facebook.
A California court has ordered Meta to pay $567 million in a case tied to concerns about the effects of Instagram and Facebook on young users, according to NPR. Judge Bryan Biedscheid issued the ruling late Thursday and said most of the money would go toward treatment services for children and teenagers.
The decision adds to legal pressure on the company over allegations that its platforms have contributed to mental health harms among minors. The ruling was reported as part of a broader effort to address online safety and youth wellbeing.
Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, has faced growing scrutiny from lawmakers, regulators and plaintiffs over the impact of social media on children and adolescents. The court’s order is one of the largest financial penalties linked to those concerns.
The case comes as debates continue in the United States and elsewhere over how social media companies should protect younger users and whether more treatment and prevention services are needed to respond to rising mental health needs.
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