Meta Fined $375M for Endangering Kids on Platforms

0:00On March 24th, a New Mexico jury has ruled that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, put kids at risk from predators and other online, threats on its platforms. After a six-week trial in just one day of deliberations, they found the company liable and ordered it to pay $375 million. Dollars in damages. The state had asked for up to $2,200 million, but settled on this lower amount. The case played out in a Santa Fe courtroom and marks one of the first times a jury has delivered a verdict like this against the major social media. Firm over child safety. New Mexico sued Meta and its CEO back in 2023, claiming the platforms failed to shield minors from sexual predators, grooming and trafficking. State Attorney General Raúl Torres hailed the outcome as a big win for families harmed by these issues. Meta quickly pushed back, saying it strongly disagrees and plans to appeal the decision right away. Looking ahead, a second round of hearing starts May 4th, where a judge could slap on extra fines and force changes to how Meta runs its apps.

1:07Meanwhile, a jury in California is now deciding if Meta and YouTube should face blame for making their services addictive to kids. This ruling could ripple out, shaping hundreds of similar cases against tech giants across the country as pressure bills to make online spaces safer. For young users.