During closing arguments, prosecutor Linda Singer told jurors that Meta’s algorithms had directed adults toward content posted by teenage users while the company concealed internal findings about the risks to young people.

In March, the jury found Meta violated the state’s Unfair Practices Act by misleading consumers about the safety of its products for children.

“This case has always been about protecting children, standing up for families, and making sure that one of the world’s largest technology companies cannot profit from practices that endanger young people without consequence,” Torrez said in a statement Thursday.

“Today’s decision is a victory for every parent who has worried about what social media is doing to their child and every child who deserves to grow up safer online.”

Around three-quarters of the new US$567 million ($966m) fund should be used for mental health treatment, and it’s to be paid over five years.

The remainder is allocated across programmes for “awareness and prevention,” “screening and assessment,” “referral, linkage, and coordination,” implementation and evaluation.

After the ruling, Meta said it remains “confident in our record of protecting teens online and will continue to defend ourselves against claims that misrepresent the facts”.

– AFP