Meta has been ordered to pay $375 million in civil penalties after a jury in New Mexico found that it knowingly harmed children’s mental health.
The Silicon Valley giant was accused of misleading users about the safety of its apps —Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — and enabling child sexual exploitation.
Meta had denied violating New Mexico’s consumer protection law and has already said it will appeal.
After a seven-week trial, the jury delivered a landmark decision that may offer a preview of similar cases across the country.
Tech companies have faced thousands of lawsuits accusing them of prioritising profit over children’s wellbeing.
A jury is deliberating in Los Angeles after a trial in which Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Meta, denied that his platforms were designed to be addictive for children.
In New Mexico, the state’s Democratic attorney-general accused Meta of allowing child predators unfettered access to underage users.
“The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety,” Raúl Torrez said in a statement.
“Meta executives knew their products harmed children, disregarded warnings from their own employees and lied to the public about what they knew. Today the jury joined families, educators, and child safety experts in saying enough is enough.”
The case relied on an undercover investigation where agents for the state created social media accounts posing as children to document sexual approaches from adults, as well as Meta’s response.
The lawsuit was filed in 2023. It was alleged that Meta failed to address the dangers of social media addiction.
Features such as infinite scroll and autoplay videos keep younger users hooked, prosecutors said. The same claim was made during the Los Angeles trial.
In both cases prosecutors said social media addiction could lead to depression, anxiety and self-harm for children.
New Mexico’s lawsuit sought an order directing Meta to tighten safety measures on its platforms.
“Over the course of a decade, Meta has failed over and over again to act honestly and transparently,” Linda Singer, an attorney for the state, told the jury during closing arguments on Monday.
“It’s failed to act to protect young people in this state. It is up to you to finish this job.”
Meta, which has a market capitalisation of $1.5 trillion, has not conceded that social media addiction exists. At the trial in New Mexico, the company’s lawyers defended its safety policies.
“Evidence shows not only that Meta invests in safety because it’s the right thing to do but because it is good for business,” Meta attorney Kevin Huff told jurors in closing arguments.
“Meta designs its apps to help people connect with friends and family, not to try to connect predators.”
American tech companies have been protected from liability for material posted on their platforms under a 30-year-old provision of the US Communications Decency Act, Section 230.
Campaigners and bereaved parents who blame the tech giants for the loss of their children have railed against the provision.
In New Mexico, prosecutors said Meta should still be liable because it pushes out third-party content through complex algorithms that proliferate material that can be harmful for children.
“We know the output is meant to be engagement and time spent for kids,” Singer said. “That choice that Meta made has profound negative impacts on kids.”
Parents and advocates welcomed the jury’s decision.
A second phase of the trial, possibly in May, before a judge with no jury, would determine whether Meta created a public nuisance and may be ordered to change course and pay for remedies.
Relief could be years away as Meta vowed to appeal.
“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal,” a Meta spokesperson said. “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.”
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