Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is set to face trial in New Mexico over allegations that it failed to protect children from sexual exploitation and misrepresented the safety of its platforms. Opening statements are scheduled for Monday, 9 February, marking the first stand-alone state case against a major social media company focused solely on harm to minors.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, centres on claims that Meta knowingly exposed children to sexual predators and mental health risks for profit. Investigators created undercover accounts posing as minors and documented instances of sexual solicitations, as well as Meta’s responses. The lawsuit states, “Meta knowingly exposes children to the twin dangers of sexual exploitation and mental health harm. Meta’s motive for doing so is profit.”
Prosecutors argue that Meta’s algorithms and platform features encouraged compulsive use among young people, creating what they describe as a “breeding ground” for predators. They also allege that the company failed to disclose what it knew about these risks, violating state consumer protection laws and creating a public nuisance. Attorneys have warned jurors that the trial will include “very sensitive and very explicit material discussed in terms of safety to children.”
Meta denies the allegations, accusing prosecutors of selectively presenting evidence to make “sensationalist” arguments. In a statement, the company said, “For over a decade, we’ve listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement, and conducted in-depth research to understand the issues that matter most. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made.” Meta highlighted measures taken to protect teens, including stricter default settings, content restrictions, and tools providing information about who young users are messaging.
More than 40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against Meta, alleging that the company deliberately designed features that encourage addictive use among children. Most of these cases are in federal courts; New Mexico’s trial is the first to reach a courtroom.
The company is also facing separate claims in Los Angeles County Superior Court alongside Google’s YouTube over alleged social media addiction. The lawsuit, filed by a 19-year-old identified as “KGM,” claims her use of Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube as a minor contributed to depression and suicidal thoughts. TikTok reportedly settled the case before jury selection began.
The lawsuit states, “Borrowing heavily from the behavioural and neurobiological techniques used by slot machines and exploited by the cigarette industry, Defendants deliberately embedded in their products an array of design features aimed at maximising youth engagement to drive advertising revenue.”
Meta disputes these claims, stating, “Recently, a number of lawsuits have attempted to place the blame for teen mental health struggles squarely on social media companies. But this oversimplifies a serious issue… Narrowing the challenges faced by teens to a single factor ignores the scientific research and the many stressors impacting young people today.”
José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, said the allegations against YouTube are “simply not true” and that “providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work.”
