A New Mexico jury has found Meta guilty of knowingly harming children’s mental health and concealing information regarding child sexual exploitation on its social media platforms. The decision, reached after a nearly seven-week trial, favored state prosecutors who accused Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, of prioritizing profits over safety.
The jury concluded that Meta violated portions of New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act by withholding information about the risks of child sexual exploitation and its impact on children’s mental health. The company was also accused of engaging in unfair trade practices that exploited children’s vulnerabilities and lack of experience. The jury identified numerous violations, with each carrying a separate penalty totaling $375 million US.
In response to the verdict, a spokesperson for Meta expressed disagreement and announced plans to appeal, stating that the company works diligently to ensure platform safety and acknowledges the challenges of identifying and removing harmful content and bad actors.
This case in New Mexico is part of a broader legal trend involving social media platforms and their effects on children. The trial, which commenced on February 9, is one of the initial lawsuits against Meta, coinciding with calls from school districts and lawmakers for stricter regulations on smartphone use in educational settings.
Simultaneously, a federal court in California is deliberating on whether Meta and YouTube should be held accountable for harms inflicted on children through their platforms. This case is one of three pivotal court battles that could establish precedents for numerous similar lawsuits.
Moreover, over 40 state attorneys general have taken legal action against Meta, alleging that the company’s design of Instagram and Facebook features contributes to a mental health crisis among young individuals.
The lawsuit filed by New Mexico’s Attorney General Raul Torrez in 2023 also highlights Meta’s alleged failure to disclose or address the risks associated with social media addiction. While Meta denies the existence of social media addiction, executives at the trial acknowledged concerns about “problematic use” and emphasized their aim to ensure a positive user experience on their platforms.
The trial in New Mexico examined a range of internal correspondences and reports from Meta related to child safety. Witness testimonies included Meta executives, platform engineers, whistleblowers, psychiatric experts, tech-safety consultants, and local public school educators who shared challenges linked to social media disruptions, including sextortion schemes targeting children.
The jury deliberated on whether Meta’s executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, misled social media users with statements regarding platform safety. Jurors considered a list of allegations from prosecutors, including Meta’s alleged failure to disclose information about issues enforcing age restrictions, the prevalence of social media content related to teen suicide, the impact of Meta algorithms in promoting harmful content, among others.
A potential second phase of the trial, likely to occur before a judge without a jury in May, will determine if Meta created a public nuisance and may be compelled to make changes and provide remedies.