Meta Found Liable for Child Safety and Mental Health Harms on Social Media

In a landmark legal ruling, Meta has been found to have violated New Mexico state consumer protection law by failing to adequately address child sexual exploitation and mental health harms on Facebook and Instagram. A seven-week trial revealed that the company misled users about the dangers of its platforms, exploiting the vulnerabilities of children. Former Meta executives, including engineering director Arturo Bejar and vice president Brian Boland, testified that safety concerns were consistently secondary to growth ambitions. Internal documents showed that the company prioritised engagement metrics over the wellbeing of minors. A separate trial in Los Angeles also found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive features that harmed a young woman’s mental health, with Meta responsible for 70% of $US3 million in damages. The rulings have been likened to Big Tech’s ‘Big Tobacco’ moment, highlighting the systemic negligence towards child safety and mental health. Meta has announced an appeal and continues to face multiple lawsuits globally. The trials have sparked discussions on stronger regulation and accountability in social media, with examples like Roblox’s parental councils and Australia’s teen social media ban emerging as potential solutions. The verdict underscores that voluntary self-regulation is insufficient to protect minors on online platforms.