Instagram and Facebook owner Meta ordered to pay £280m for knowingly harming children
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Meta has been ordered to pay $375 million in damages after being found to have knowingly harmed children's mental health. The penalty affects Meta's portfolio of social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This ruling represents a significant legal accountability moment for a major tech company over the mental health impacts of its platforms on younger users. The decision signals growing regulatory and legal pressure on social media companies to address documented harms to children, including issues like addiction, anxiety, and depression linked to platform use. The case underscores mounting legal exposure for tech giants as governments and courts worldwide intensify scrutiny of youth safety on social platforms.
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