Meta Ordered to Pay $567 Million for Harm to Youths

So this is not about fancy tech in a luxury shop. It is about used clothes, secondhand goods, and prices.

Yes. The company is Savers Value Village. It will launch ThriftIQ.

ThriftIQ sounds small, but it can affect millions of items.

That is right. The tool helps price items faster, especially clothes for men and women.

And the company says it wants prices to stay steady, not jump around.

Yes. The company says it is trying to keep prices consistent and low.

How far has this tool already spread?

It has already been used in 58 pilot stores.

The company says it has priced more than 25 million items there.

That is a huge number of tags. So this is already real, not just an idea.

Exactly. And the company says that number should double by the end of the year.

What does the company say this changes for shoppers?

It says shoppers should see more predictable prices.

It also says average prices should stay the same or go lower.

And this is happening while thrift shopping is becoming more popular, right?

Yes. The company says secondhand shopping is growing around the world.

It also says more people now choose thrift. Prices in normal shops are high.

So the company wants to move faster, but keep thrift the same.

That is the key point. It says the tool is not meant to remove store workers.

Instead, it is meant to make workers more productive.

That seems important, because people often hear AI and think “job cuts.”

Yes, and the company is pushing back on that idea.

It says the tool helps stores work better, not just faster.

What else did the company report with this news?

It also reported stronger sales for the second quarter.

It said total net sales were $448.2 million.

It also said comparable store sales rose 4.4%.

So this AI news is coming with growth and a larger plan.

Exactly. It says it will keep rolling out in the US and Canada through early 2028.

So this is not a small test. It is part of a longer business change.

Meta ordered to pay millions over harm to youths.

Now we go to Mia, our LinguaWire correspondent for justice.

A judge in New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay $567 million.

That is a very large penalty. What is the case about?

It is about harm to young users. The judge said Meta caused it.

And this comes after an earlier part of the case too.

Yes. In March, jurors found that Meta broke the state’s consumer protection law.

They said the company lied about how safe Facebook and Instagram were for young users.

So the court is moving to the money and the changes now.

Exactly. The judge said most of the $420 million will fund treatment for young people.

The rest will support awareness, prevention, screening services, and other costs over five years.

That is a strong sign the court is looking beyond payment alone.

Yes, because the judge also ordered changes for young users.

What kind of changes are we talking about?

The judge said Facebook and Instagram should build screens that clearly explain protection tools.

Those screens should also show best practices and ways to deal with bad comments.

So the idea is not only money, but clearer safety steps inside the apps.

That is right. The judge also said those screens should appear regularly.

And an education campaign in New Mexico will be reviewed by the state.

Meta does not agree with the ruling, I assume.

No, it does not. Meta said it will appeal.

The company said it has been working to find and remove harmful content.

This sounds like a case many other states are watching closely.

Yes. The case is watched across the US. Others may make similar claims.

They want changes at the industry level, not just in one state.

So this ruling could matter far beyond New Mexico.

Exactly. It may shape how social media companies handle young users in the future.

First, three words from Story 2.

treatment: care that helps someone get better or manage a problem. In the story, the judge said much of the money will go to treatment services for young people. Example: She got treatment after the accident.

screening: a quick check to look for a problem early. In the story, the court said the money could help pay for screening services. Example: The school offers screening for hearing problems.

appeal: to ask a higher court to look at a decision again. In the story, Meta said it will appeal the ruling. Example: The company plans to appeal the fine.

Now one grammar point: will + verb.

We use will + a verb to talk about a future action or decision.

Meta said it will appeal the ruling.

The company said it will continue to defend itself.

Repeat after me: will appeal.