New Mexico Judge Brands Meta a 'Public Nuisance,' Adds $567M Abatement Fund and Orders Like Counts Hidden From Minors

TechCrunch·high signalXBlueskyLinkedInCopy link

A New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a harm-abatement fund on top of the $375 million in civil penalties a jury assessed in March, bringing the total to $942 million. Roughly $420 million is earmarked for youth treatment services, with the rest split across awareness, screening, referral and evaluation programs. The injunctive relief is the part builders should read: Meta must remove Like counts for under-18 users absent parental approval, pause push notifications to minors between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and cap their usage at 90 hours a month — a court dictating specific engagement-mechanic design.