On March 24, 2026, a New Mexico jury delivered a historic $375 million verdict in a case brought by the state’s Attorney General against Meta Platforms Inc., finding the company liable for failing to protect children on Facebook and Instagram and for violating state consumer protection laws.
The verdict came just one day before a Los Angeles jury awarded $6 million in a case against Meta Platforms Inc. and Google’s YouTube for psychological harm suffered by a young female plaintiff—the first successful jury verdict in a social media personal injury case.
Taken together, these consecutive verdicts mark a decisive turning point in nationwide litigation against social media platforms—demonstrating that juries are now prepared to hold these companies accountable for prioritizing engagement and profit over user safety.
A Landmark Ruling on Social Media and Child Safety
The New Mexico case, brought by the state’s Attorney General, alleged that Meta:
- Misled the public about the safety of its platforms.
- Failed to prevent predators from targeting children.
- Designed platform features that exposed minors to harmful content.
- Ignored internal warnings about risks to young users.
Jurors found that Meta willfully violated consumer protection laws, awarding the maximum statutory penalty based on the number of violations.
Evidence presented at trial showed that even a test account created for a 13-year-old user was quickly inundated with sexual content and solicitations from adults, demonstrating systemic failures in platform safety.
Focus on Platform Design — Not Just Content
Both the March 24, 2026 New Mexico verdict and the March 25, 2026 Los Angeles verdict are significant because they focus on:
- Platform design and safety systems
- Internal company knowledge and decision-making
- Failure to implement adequate protections for minors
These cases continue to bypass traditional Section 230 defenses, reinforcing that social media companies may be held liable for how their products are designed and operated—not just for user-generated content.
Evidence of Knowledge and Disregard for Risk
At trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Meta:
- Knew its platforms exposed children to exploitation risks.
- Failed to implement effective safeguards despite internal warnings.
- Limited law enforcement access to critical data through encryption changes.
- Misrepresented the effectiveness of its safety measures.
These findings echo broader allegations in ongoing litigation that social media companies prioritized engagement and growth over user safety.
What Happens Next
A second phase of the New Mexico case—scheduled for May 2026—will determine whether:
- Meta’s conduct constitutes a public nuisance.
- The company must fund programs to address harm to children.
- Court-ordered changes to platform design will be required
- Meta has stated it intends to appeal the verdict.
Implications for Social Media Litigation Nationwide
Taken together, the March 24, 2026 New Mexico verdict and the March 25, 2026 Los Angeles verdict signal a rapidly shifting legal landscape:
- Courts and juries are increasingly willing to hold social media companies accountable.
- Claims focused on product design, addiction, and child safety are gaining traction.
- Both government and private lawsuits are successfully advancing new legal theories.
These developments strengthen claims involving:
- Social media addiction.
- Teen mental health harm.
- Sexual exploitation and online safety failures.
Fighting for Families Harmed by Social Media
We are committed to representing individuals and families affected by:
- Social media addiction.
- Teen depression and anxiety linked to platform use.
- Eating disorders and body image harm.
- Self-harm and suicide-related injuries.
Based on our successful track record in high-profile, serious injury, product liability lawsuits, combined with a 30-plus year working relationship with lead counsel in nationwide social media litigation, we bring:
- Firsthand knowledge of the legal theories proven at trial.
- Experience with expert testimony on addiction, psychiatry, and product design.
- Access to the resources required to litigate against major technology companies.
Contact Us About a Social Media Addiction Claim
If you or a loved one has suffered mental health harm related to social media use, you may have a valid social media lawsuit claim.
Contact us to learn more about your legal rights and how we can help
