Jury begins deliberations in landmark New Mexico trial over children’s safety risks on Meta - AP News
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
A New Mexico jury is deliberating in a landmark lawsuit alleging Meta's platforms pose significant risks to children's safety and well-being.
How This Affects You
If Meta is held liable for child safety harms through its algorithms and design features, platform policies and features affecting young users could change significantly.
AI Summary
A jury in New Mexico has begun deliberating in a lawsuit alleging that Meta's social media platforms pose significant risks to children's safety and well-being. The case represents a landmark legal challenge to the company over how its algorithms and design features affect young users. The trial centers on claims that Meta's platforms — including Facebook and Instagram — have contributed to harm among minors through features designed to maximize engagement. A verdict could set precedent for how tech companies are held accountable for child safety issues and potentially expose Meta to substantial liability. The outcome may also influence similar litigation pending against social media companies nationwide.
What's Being Done
A jury is deliberating in the New Mexico trial; a verdict could set precedent for similar litigation against social media companies nationwide.
Source Coverage Map
15 of 43 tracked sources covered this story
Following this story?
Get notified when new coverage appears
Other Sources Covering This Story
5 sourcesMultiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.

California jury finds Meta, YouTube liable in landmark social media trial
Should this be getting more attention?
You Might Have Missed
Related stories from different sources and perspectives
CorporateMeta on trial over child safety: can it really protect its next generation of users?
<p>New Mexico prosecutors allege Meta prioritized profit, even as child abuse surged on Instagram and Facebook</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&utm_campaign=BN22326&utm_content=signup&utm_term=standfirst&utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/meta">Meta</a> is facing a reckoning over its child safety practices as a trial surfaces fresh allegations that the company prioritized profit incentives and engagement over protecting children.</p><p>The landmark trial in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/newmexico">New Mexico</a> has now completed its fifth week, with the state attorney general resting the case on 5 March. Proceedings are expected to continue for another week as Meta ...
HealthJury finds Meta's platforms are harmful to children in 1st wave of social media addiction lawsuits
A New Mexico jury found Tuesday that social media conglomerate Meta is harmful to children's mental health and in violation of state consumer protection law. The case was among the first to reach trial in a wave of litigation involving social media platforms and their impacts on children.
Civil RightsDetained immigrant children still face concerning conditions at Texas facility, lawyers say - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxOb3VMTHVhdUVZN1JMMHhiQW0wYTZWcXdQOWFHbXl1VWh0cVU3eUVUd1VuZ2J2SEswZzNPNFlXMnc3NVlpdk9GTHpISWJDUGdwdzZ2bWVmOEJGSGM2WnR4MThPZ0dPMmF5NGM4c1NMZzZOa3gtR0Q2bC1WQ3kyLWJnNlFoUE1hUi02MmJsMGwyOHB1QVhJWkhxdjRGY29ka2Q1UWJvZVFKOV85LVpWY0E?oc=5" target="_blank">Detained immigrant children still face concerning conditions at Texas facility, lawyers say</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
Civil RightsAs New Mexico investigates, questions are raised about Epstein's links to the powerful - Reuters
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxPOXZtVUUyZTVNdHVYbXJuWWNpRG1mQTRhT2JTb2w3NXVud0Z1ZFNRM2VQYkFYNWpEeDd0ZDBUcWozS3I2UndKbXRuQ2NTRlpTSEZDelB3QTQ0blRXT3ZLVWphcjVwMFh1M09aOG0xRHRsaFFMNjhUMWl0NG9QRlVoR1FvNWgxUjAtRTU5cFI1aThyNW9fbmtmeE5vS1VNZXFtSDBjc0pHLXloUWJqVEpZWFFQU2FpbmhhTmxJ?oc=5" target="_blank">As New Mexico investigates, questions are raised about Epstein's links to the powerful</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>
CorporateJury finds Elon Musk misled investors during Twitter purchase, absolves him of some fraud claims - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxNS2NWNXFwNUlKbF9WMUZtS0FuZi1Tb3Z0TWhYeExma0ZVWkJvQS1KbTItZkZwd0F6LWRPZzE3TURoR2NVTVMzQjVualBpTVhJMTNvSkw4cDFzVUtwVVBJbW9Ecl9tU3RYRzBCZGhlR3Fvc0FSeHNvN2tmYTFzcVNKbEthbEF1QUVZOEVXakp4NzNvaXhEWkVhdEVrN3RiWEtHUUhjWXNWaUhHOGtaX0ZXSA?oc=5" target="_blank">Jury finds Elon Musk misled investors during Twitter purchase, absolves him of some fraud claims</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
PoliticsFormer US congressman secretly lobbied for Venezuela, prosecutor says at trial - Reuters
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxNY3NNWkU4UWhPcFZPemc4WXY3YUZLUkZfT2szY0tsSDR0MHFhWVpKZ3pkWUdnRTl1bm9TenlrS00yYl81WXI2Yk52MUFtYS1DRkxRdFVKQTFkOUlmdUJCbTJfUG5Oa1JWc1ZCd3AzU2JYSmRWZUJ1V0ZVUVhHWnVjRXdlWGNUR1RGcHZ4UGRJbE5tOU5iRVdDMnNkMGlhS1ZpLWdFSFY5Tlp2TFpuVHRuZ3poUXBSeXpmck9IVzN1WGFxUQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Former US congressman secretly lobbied for Venezuela, prosecutor says at trial</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Jurors were not unanimous as they found Meta, YouTube liable in social media addiction trial
A jury on Wednesday found Meta and YouTube liable for creating products that led to harmful and addictive behavior by young users and voted to award $3 million in damages to the lead plaintiff in the case. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul and Jo Ling Kent have more.
Did this story change how you see things?
Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.
The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.
See our sourcesMost Read This Week
Fentanyl found inside Barbies sold at Missouri discount store, police say

Kash Patel admits under oath FBI is buying location data on Americans

US moves to soften capital rules: ‘Big banks can declare mission accomplished’

The West's historic snow drought could bring water shortages, wildfires

Pentagon's limits on press access unconstitutional, US judge rules - Reuters





