Meta Hit with $375 Million Verdict in New Mexico Over Child Safety Concerns
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, faces a $375 million penalty after a New Mexico jury found the tech giant endangered children on its platforms. The verdict, delivered Tuesday, comes as a similar lawsuit remains under deliberation in California, raising the stakes in a wave of legal challenges targeting social media’s impact on youth.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez hailed the decision as a “historic victory” for families impacted by Meta’s platforms, alleging they “enabled pedophiles and predators to engage in child sexual exploitation.” He emphasized the ruling sends a message to the tech industry that legal accountability extends to even the largest companies.
The case centered on accusations that Meta knowingly designed its platforms to be addictive to young users, leaving them vulnerable to harm. Expert witnesses testified in both the New Mexico and California trials, outlining how Meta was aware of underage usage and the potential dangers.
Jurors in Santa Fe reached their verdict after just seven hours of deliberation, significantly less than the $2 billion the state initially sought. Meta has stated it will appeal the decision.
“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal,” Meta said in a statement. “We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online.”
The California case, unfolding in Los Angeles Superior Court, focuses on whether Instagram and YouTube were designed to addict children and whether the companies adequately warned families about those risks. Jurors there have signaled potential deadlock on liability for one of the defendants while considering damages for another.
The New Mexico verdict resonated with grieving parents following the California trial, many of whom have spent weeks awaiting a decision. Advocates hope these early rulings will force social media companies to prioritize child safety and reshape how they engage with young users.
Thousands of similar cases are pending in California state and federal court, potentially exposing Meta to billions of dollars in further damages. A recent Delaware court ruling determined Meta’s insurers will not be responsible for covering these costs.
The legal battles come amid growing global concern over the impact of social media on children’s mental health and safety. Meta, formerly known as Facebook, continues to face scrutiny from lawmakers and advocacy groups regarding its content moderation policies and user privacy practices. [1, 2]
Earlier this month, Meta was also ordered to pay $375 million for misleading users over child safety. [3]
