Facebook, Instagram parent company ordered to pay $375 million for endangering children

 

By Scott Barkley - Posted at Baptist Press:

Published March 25, 2026

"During the trial, evidence demonstrated that Meta’s platforms are intentionally designed to addict young people and expose them to dangerous content, such as eating disorders and self-harm. The evidence included Meta internal documents and testimony from former Meta employees, law enforcement officials and New Mexico educators."

SANTA FE, New Mexico (BP) – Meta knowingly misled consumers about the safety of its online platforms and therefore endangered children, a jury decision rendered on March 24. Therefore, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram will pay $375 million in civil penalties, the maximum amount of $5,000 per violation.

“The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety,” said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Meta executives knew their products harmed children, disregarded warnings from their own employees, and lied to the public about what they knew. Today the jury joined families, educators, and child safety experts in saying enough is enough.”

The decision comes as a similar lawsuit in Los Angeles covering thousands of cases of social media addiction is in the jury-deliberation stage.

The March 24 verdict came after only seven hours of deliberation following a two-year investigation by the New Mexico Department of Justice. Internal documents retrieved during that investigation contained warnings from Meta employees and child safety experts over dangers present to children on the company’s platforms.

In the complaint, Torrez called Facebook and Instagram “breeding ground[s] for predators who target children for human trafficking, the distribution of sexual images, grooming, and solicitation.”

A spokesperson for Meta said the company will appeal the decision.

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