A fine everyone is talking about
A court of justice in New Mexico, a state in the United States, has just made a decision that could change everything in the world of social media. It has told Meta —the company that owns Facebook and Instagram— that it is responsible for the harm these apps can cause to minors. It is the first time, in the whole country, that a judge has acknowledged this so clearly.
What does this mean in simple words? Let us imagine a toy maker sells a doll that, according to all the experts, can harm children who use it badly. If a judge decides the maker knew it and did not do enough to protect them, the company would have to pay. Well, something similar has happened with social networks. The justice system has said: «Meta knew its apps could harm young people, and it did not do enough to prevent it».
How much money will it have to pay?
The figure is huge: 567 million dollars. That money is not going into any rich person’s pockets. It will be used to create a fund dedicated to the mental health of children and teenagers over the next five years.
The distribution is very specific:
- 420 million dollars for treatment services.
- 90 million for programs that detect and assess problems in time.
- 33 million for prevention and awareness campaigns.
That is, the idea is that this money helps young people who are struggling, and also prevents others from coming to suffer.
Why have we got to this point?
It all started with a lawsuit by the attorney general of New Mexico, Raúl Torrez. He argued that Facebook and Instagram contribute to the mental health crisis among young people, and that they even facilitate the exploitation of minors. During the trial, Torrez insisted that these platforms have become a place where people with bad intentions can act all too easily.
The court has sided with him on the most important point: it has acknowledged the harm. With its decision, it has also ordered Meta to strengthen the safety of minors in its apps. For example, improving the systems to detect when a user might be a child and, in those cases, asking for proof of the real age.
And what does Meta say?
The company disagrees. It has already announced it will file an appeal, that is, it will try to get another court to review the decision. In its response, it says it will keep building tools to protect teenagers on its platforms.
It is worth remembering that such a ruling is not the end of the story. Months, even years, of back and forth through the courts usually pass before it is fully confirmed. But this decision sends an important message: companies are starting to be held responsible for the design of their products when that design puts children at risk.
Why does it matter to you?
You might think: «that happens in the United States, what do I care». Well, as it happens, what happens there usually ends up reaching the whole world. The big social media companies are global, and when a justice system requires them to change how they treat minors, those changes end up being felt in Spain too.
In addition, this news opens everyone’s eyes, but above all those of mothers and fathers. It serves to remind us that social networks are not neutral ground: they have owners, they have designs meant to hook you, and now, more and more, they also have a responsibility before the law.
In summary
For the first time, a United States court has declared Meta responsible for the harm its social networks can do to minors. The company will have to put up 567 million dollars to look after the mental health of young people and strengthen protection within Facebook and Instagram. Meta has said it will appeal, but the message is already clear: looking after children on the internet is no longer only the family’s job, but also that of the big companies.
