Jury Rules Zuckerberg’s Meta Failed to Protect Children, Orders $375 Million in Damages - Facebook

SANTA FE, N.M. — March 25, 2026 - In a landmark verdict that could reshape accountability for social media giants, a New Mexico jury on Tuesday found that Meta Platforms Inc. willfully violated the state's consumer protection laws by misleading users about the safety of its platforms and failing to adequately protect children from sexual predators and other harms.

The jury ordered the company, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, to pay $375 million in civil penalties — the maximum of $5,000 for each of thousands of violations of New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez hailed the decision as a "historic" victory, marking the first time a state has prevailed at trial against a major tech company for endangering young users. "This verdict sends a clear message that social media companies will be held accountable when they prioritize profits over the safety of our children," Torrez said.

The nearly seven-week trial centered on allegations that Meta's platforms created a "breeding ground" for child predators, exposing minors to sexual exploitation, explicit content, and mental health risks while the company downplayed or concealed known dangers. Prosecutors argued that Meta engaged in "unfair and deceptive" and "unconscionable" trade practices, knowingly taking advantage of children's vulnerabilities and inexperience.

Evidence presented included internal company documents, testimony from former executives, educators, and safety experts, and even a recorded deposition from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Jurors determined that Meta made false or misleading statements about platform safety and failed to implement sufficient safeguards, despite awareness of the risks to teen mental health and exposure to predators via algorithms and features that kept users engaged.

The $375 million award, while substantial, fell short of the more than $2 billion in damages the state had sought. A second phase of the case, set for May before a judge, will address whether Meta created a public nuisance and could result in additional penalties or court-ordered changes to the company's platforms.

Meta strongly disagreed with the outcome. A company spokesperson said: "We respectfully disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal. We remain confident in our record of protecting teens online and have invested billions in tools, technology, and people to keep young people safe."

The case, filed in 2023, is part of a growing wave of lawsuits nationwide accusing social media companies of harming youth. Similar trials involving Meta and other platforms, including one in California concerning addiction-related harms, are underway or pending.

Legal experts view the New Mexico verdict as a potential turning point, demonstrating that juries are willing to hold tech firms liable under consumer protection statutes for harms linked to addictive design, inadequate moderation, and failure to warn about risks.For New Mexico families and advocates, the decision represents a step toward greater platform responsibility. "The safety issues weren't mistakes," one state prosecutor told jurors. "They were choices."

Meta has 30 days to file its appeal, and the full implications — both financial and regulatory — may take months or years to resolve. In the meantime, the ruling underscores mounting pressure on Silicon Valley to prioritize child safety amid intensifying scrutiny from states, parents, and lawmakers.

17GEN4.com