In brief
The trial brings scrutiny to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, as New Mexico attorneys argue that the company knowingly misled users about the safety of its platforms for young people. Jurors will soon decide if Meta violated consumer protection laws through their practices that allegedly endangered children. The prosecution calls for a significant civil penalty, claiming that Meta's internal studies indicated a disturbing level of problematic social media use among teens.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Closing arguments began Monday in a landmark trial in New Mexico where social media conglomerate Meta is accused of misleading its users about how safe its platforms are for children. Jurors will take up the case after the arguments and six weeks of testimony from local teachers, psychiatric experts, state investigators, top Meta officials, and whistleblowers. The case in New Mexico state court is among the first to reach trial in a wave of litigation involving social media platforms and their impacts on children.New Mexico prosecutors have accused Meta — which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp — of prioritizing profits over safety in violation of state consumer protection laws, raising concerns about the safety of complex algorithms, and a variety of messaging features and settings. It’s clear that young people are spending too much time on Meta’s products, they’ve lost control, prosecution attorney Linda Singer told the jury in closing statements. Meanwhile, evidence presented showed Meta’s algorithms had been recommending sensational and harmful content to teenagers and failing to enforce its minimum user age of 13.Attorneys for Meta dispute the claims, stating the company implements protections for teenagers and filters harmful content, although they acknowledge that some posts are missed. Singer is urging jurors to impose a civil penalty of over $2 billion against Meta, based on consumer protection violations involving an estimated 208,700 users under age 18 in New Mexico. A finding of willful violations could open the pathway for significant fines, while Meta contends that it works continuously to improve safety.This trial is indicative of a broader scrutiny faced by tech companies regarding their responsibilities in protecting young users. As similar lawsuits unfold, the outcome in New Mexico may set a significant precedent for how social media companies are held accountable for their practices.
