In a legal blow to Meta platforms, the social media giant was on Tuesday, 24th March, found to have breached consumer protection laws by a jury in the US state of New Mexico. The case was filed by the state’s attorney general, who accused the company of misrepresenting the safety of its social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, as well as not protecting minors from sexual exploitation.
Less than a day after deliberation, the jury ordered the company to pay $375 million in civil penalties. This is the first time a jury has ruled on such serious allegations against the company, which is already facing multiple lawsuits over its impact on young users.
🔥🚨BREAKING: META just got fined $375 million in New Mexico over child exploitation claims.
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) March 24, 2026
A New Mexico jury revealed META prioritized profits over safety by allegedly hiding what it knew about the dangers of child s*xual exploitation on their apps.
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However, the company has stated that it would appeal the case. “We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal,” said a spokesperson, adding, “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.”
State calls verdict a ‘Historic Victory’
New Mexico’s Attorney General, Raúl Torrez, also welcomed the decision, saying, “This is a landmark case, and I’m glad that we could hold them accountable for this reckless disregard for the safety of kids.” “A historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety.”
Meta faces $375 million penalty in New Mexico over child safety claims https://t.co/qluOVnVkLd
— Financial Express (@FinancialXpress) March 25, 2026
He added that the penalty should send a strong message to big tech companies: “No company is beyond the reach of the law.” Torrez also said that in the next phase of the case, scheduled for May, the state will push for further penalties and demand changes to Meta’s platforms to improve child safety.
Serious allegations around child safety
The case was based on the allegations that Meta did not ensure the safety of kids on its platforms and allowed them to get involved in inappropriate interactions. During the trial, the state claimed that the company allowed predators easy access to kids, which sometimes resulted in real-life crimes.
“Over the course of a decade, Meta has failed over and over again to act honestly and transparently,” said lawyer Linda Singer during closing arguments. “It’s failed to act to protect young people in this state.”
Meta strongly denied these claims. Its lawyer, Kevin Huff, told the court that the company has taken significant steps to ensure safety. “What the evidence shows is Meta’s robust disclosures and tireless efforts to prevent harmful content,” he said, adding that the company “did not knowingly and intentionally lie to the public.”
Undercover investigation exposed risks
The lawsuit was partly based on an undercover operation carried out in 2023 by the attorney general’s office. The operation involved creating accounts under the guise of children under the age of 14 on Facebook and Instagram.
According to the state, these accounts quickly received explicit content and were contacted by adults seeking similar material. The findings led to criminal cases against several individuals and highlighted what the state described as serious gaps in Meta’s safety systems.
The state also claimed that Meta was aware of all these risks but did not take sufficient action. This is because it is claimed that Meta did not take sufficient action, even when it publicly claimed that it was safe for children to use their platform.
Addiction and mental health concerns
Another major aspect of the case was addiction. The state argued that Meta’s platform was addictive because of features such as infinite scrolling, which allows users to keep scrolling through their feed. This feature, according to the state, is intended for users to stay engaged for longer. This, in turn, can lead to addiction.
According to the lawsuit, such features may contribute to anxiety, depression, and even self-harm among teenagers. These concerns are part of a broader wave of legal challenges against Meta and other social media companies across the United States.
The jury found that Meta committed thousands of violations of consumer protection law and engaged in unfair practices. Each violation carried a penalty, leading to a total fine of $375 million.
