SANTA FE, New Mexico: A landmark court ruling has put one of the world’s biggest social media companies under fresh pressure as Meta faces a $567 million penalty and mandatory changes to protect young users. A New Mexico judge ruled on Thursday that Meta’s platforms contributed to harm affecting children’s wellbeing, ordering the company to strengthen safety measures on Facebook and Instagram. Judge Bryan Biedscheid of the New Mexico state court found that Meta created a public nuisance by failing to adequately protect children from risks linked to its platforms. Meta rejected the court’s findings and announced plans to appeal the decision, saying it has taken significant steps to improve online safety and remove harmful content. Torrez welcomed the ruling, saying it sends a strong message to technology companies that child safety must come before profits.