President Donald J. Trump welcomes Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, to the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joiyce N. Boghosian)
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In March, after a trial that lasted seven weeks, a jury in New Mexico found that Meta had violated the state’s consumer protection laws by creating online products that are harmful to the mental health of children. The jury determined the company hid what it knew about the dangers of child sexual exploitation and the impacts on child mental health. It agreed with allegations that Meta made false or misleading statements and also agreed that Meta engaged in “unconscionable” trade practices that unfairly took advantage of the vulnerabilities and inexperience of children. It then imposed a penalty against the company of $375 million.
The case in New Mexico was among the first to reach trial in a wave of litigation involving social media platforms and their impacts on children. In all, 40 states have initiated similar claims against the company, claiming it has contributed to a mental health crisis among young people by deliberately designing Instagram and Facebook features that are addictive.
