Meta Faces Youth Mental Harm Trial in New Mexico State
In Focus
- Meta’s youth mental health harm trial starts on May 4, 2026
- The state alleges that Facebook and Instagram cause mental health harm to underage users
- The state has not provided scientific evidence linking social media use to mental health harm
A major trial that could reshape how social media platforms operate has kicked off in New Mexico. The trial, which starts on May 4, 2026, is expected to prove whether Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram caused mental health harm to young users as alleged by the state. Through the Meta youth harm trial, New Mexico’s Attorney General Raúl Torrez will be pushing for sweeping changes to products owned by the social media giant.
Why is Meta Facing Youth Harm Trial?
Meta’s child safety lawsuit stems from a previous case filed by Torrez. In the lawsuit, the state accused Meta of developing its platforms in a way that causes young users to get addicted. The state claimed that the social media giant exposed underage users to potential risks and failed to protect under-age users from sexual exploitation will be heard in a Santa Fe court.
The New Mexico trial moves Meta’s underage exploitation case to the second phase. In March 2026, a jury ruled that the social media giant had violated the consumer protection law in the state by misrepresenting safety measures for underage users on Instagram and Facebook. Consequently, the court ordered Meta to pay $376 million in damages.
The court will be evaluating whether Instagram and Facebook are a “public nuisance” under the New Mexico state law. Should the court find that the platforms are a nuisance, it could order far-reaching remedies in a bid to stop the alleged harm to younger audiences.
State to Seek Billions in Damages
At the Meta youth mental health trial, Torrez will be asking the court to award billions of dollars in additional damages. He will also be seeking orders to compel Meta to introduce mandatory age verification and review its content recommendation systems,
Additionally, the state wants Meta to limit features like autoplay and endless scrolling, which the U.K. has considered regulating. However, court filings show that the state has not provided scientific evidence to support its claim that social media use results in mental health problems.
Torrez expects the case to “set a new standard” on how social media companies conduct themselves. Meta faces the mental health trial weeks after a probe by the EU found its measures to protect under-13 users inadequate.
Meta’s Reaction to the New Mexico Youth Harm Trial
On its part, Meta has rejected allegations made by the New Mexico Attorney General. The social media giant said that it has implemented safety tools to keep young users safe online.
“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,” a Meta Spokesperson noted as cited by Reuters.
The company said most of the proposed changes would be impossible to implement and could cause it to quit operating in New Mexico. Last week, the social media giant warned investors that legal and regulatory challenges in the EU and the U.S. could affect its business and financial results significantly.
