Meta’s Child-Safety Claims Take a $375M Hit

Meta was found liable in New Mexico for misleading families about child safety, and the state says the company put profit ahead of kids.

Quick Take

A New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties after finding violations of state consumer-protection law.
Attorney General Raúl Torrez said Meta chose “profits over children’s safety” in the case.
The state argued that Meta hid known risks tied to child exploitation, harmful content, and teen mental health.
New Mexico later sought sweeping court-ordered changes, showing the case was about more than money.

Jury Verdict Puts Meta Under Pressure

A New Mexico jury found Meta liable in a child-safety case and ordered the company to pay $375 million in civil penalties. Reporters said jurors concluded the company violated the state’s Unfair Practices Act by misleading consumers about safety on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The verdict followed a trial that examined claims that Meta failed to protect minors from sexual exploitation and harmful online material.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez called the ruling a historic win for children and families. In a public statement, he said his office remained focused on changing what he described as Meta’s “longstanding and dangerous practice of prioritizing profits over children’s safety.” His office also said Meta executives knew youth safety was not the company’s real priority, based on internal evidence and employee warnings presented in the case.

What the State Said Meta Hid

The complaint filed by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office said Meta let Facebook and Instagram become a place where predators could reach children. It also said the company used design choices that were addictive to young users and failed to warn parents about the risks. State lawyers said Meta misled the public about those dangers while still benefiting from heavy teen use and engagement.

News coverage of the trial said the state relied on internal documents, witness testimony, and expert evidence to show that Meta understood the risks. One report said Meta employees and outside child-safety experts warned the company about the harms, but those warnings did not change the company’s basic approach. The jury’s verdict gave the state a legal win, but the full record behind each finding was not fully laid out in the available reporting.

New Mexico Sought Bigger Changes Than Damages

After the verdict, New Mexico sought broader relief aimed at changing how Meta’s apps work. Reuters reported that the state asked a judge to declare Meta a public nuisance and overhaul Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The Guardian reported that the state also pushed for stronger age checks, guardian-linked child accounts, and a child-safety monitor. That shows the case was not only about past harm, but also about forcing future design changes.

A New Mexico judge expanded penalties against Meta to $942 million, adding a $567 million abatement fund on top of earlier $375 million civil penalties after a jury found the company failed to protect young users on Facebook and Instagram. The ruling also mandates new safety… pic.twitter.com/rdBD3K3Zxy

— Richard Ricketts (@ultrabyrich) August 7, 2026

The fight fits a larger national push by states and school districts to hold social media companies responsible for youth harm. It also reflects a broader frustration shared across party lines: many Americans think powerful institutions talk about safety while putting growth first. Meta has said it warns users that harmful content can still get through, which keeps the case tied to a wider fight over platform design and corporate responsibility.