Jury finds Meta's platforms are harmful to children in 1st wave of social media addiction lawsuits

Key Points:

• A New Mexico jury found Meta guilty of harming children's mental health and violating state consumer protection laws, concluding that the company prioritized profits over safety on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
• The jury determined Meta engaged in thousands of violations of the state's Unfair Practices Act, including making false or misleading statements and exploiting children's vulnerabilities, resulting in a potential penalty of $375 million.
• The case, initiated by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, relied on undercover investigations showing Meta's inadequate response to child sexual exploitation and social media addiction, a claim Meta disputes but acknowledges "problematic use."
• This trial is among the first in a growing wave of litigation against social media companies accused of contributing to a youth mental health crisis by designing addictive features, with similar cases ongoing in federal courts and other states.
• A possible second phase of the trial could address whether Meta created a public nuisance, potentially leading to mandated changes and financial remedies; the verdict was based on extensive internal Meta documents, expert testimonies, and evidence of social media-related disruptions in schools.