A New Mexico courtroom will become the battleground Monday for a high-stakes legal fight that could force Meta to dramatically overhaul how Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp operate for young users.
The bench trial in Santa Fe represents the second chapter of a lawsuit brought by Democratic Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who alleges Meta deliberately created addictive platform features while failing to shield children from sexual predators.
This legal proceeding follows New Mexico’s major victory in March, when a jury determined Meta violated state consumer protection laws by misleading the public about youth safety on Facebook and Instagram. That verdict resulted in a $375 million penalty against the tech giant.
The current phase will determine whether a judge finds Meta’s platforms constitute a “public nuisance” under state law — a designation that would empower the court to mandate sweeping platform modifications.
Court documents reveal Torrez plans to pursue additional damages worth billions while requesting mandatory platform changes for New Mexico users. These proposed modifications include implementing age verification systems, restructuring algorithms to prioritize quality content for minors, and eliminating autoplay features and endless scrolling for young users.
Meta maintains it has implemented comprehensive safety measures to protect its younger user base.
This legal challenge represents just one of thousands of similar lawsuits targeting Meta and rival social media companies, with plaintiffs alleging these platforms deliberately engineer addictive products that contribute to widespread youth mental health problems.
Last week, Meta cautioned investors that mounting legal and regulatory pressure across the European Union and United States “could significantly impact our business and financial results,” acknowledging years of intensifying scrutiny over children’s online safety.
Speaking to media representatives before the trial’s start, Torrez expressed optimism that this case would “set a new standard, not only in the state of New Mexico but nationally and potentially globally, for a new set of expectations for how social media companies are expected to conduct themselves.”
In pre-trial court submissions, Meta argued that scientific evidence fails to establish social media as a cause of mental health issues. The company contends many requested changes would prove impossible to execute and might force them to cease operations in New Mexico entirely.
A Meta representative stated ahead of the proceedings: “The New Mexico Attorney General’s focus on a single platform is a misguided strategy that ignores the hundreds of other apps teens use daily.”
