New Mexico Meta Trial: Child Safety Rules for Apps

New Mexico wants Meta to make big changes to apps like Instagram and Facebook to protect children. This is part of a new trial starting May 4, 2026.
By Newsroom | Technology, Law |

SANTA FE, N.M. - State prosecutors are pushing for sweeping modifications to Meta's social media applications and their underlying algorithms, aiming to bolster child safety measures. This push marks the second, pivotal stage of a legal battle that has already seen Meta found liable for creating a public safety hazard. Opening statements in this three-week bench trial are slated for Monday, May 4, 2026, as the court grapples with whether platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp constitute a public nuisance under state law.

In the trial's initial phase, a jury levied $375 million in civil penalties against Meta, concluding the company knowingly imperiled children's mental well-being and obscured its awareness of child sexual exploitation risks on its services.

The state's current demands are substantial, seeking features such as mandated parental or guardian association for child accounts on Meta platforms. Additionally, prosecutors are requesting the appointment of a court-supervised child safety monitor to oversee the implementation and efficacy of proposed improvements over time. The lawsuit also targets enhanced age verification processes and other measures designed to curtail child sexual exploitation.

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New Mexico seeks child safety restrictions on Meta apps, algorithms in trial's 2nd phase - 1

Meta has pushed back aggressively, framing the state's demands as unfeasible and a threat to free expression. A spokesperson stated that the proposed mandates "infringe on parental rights and stifle free expression for all New Mexicans." The company has suggested that compliance could necessitate the complete withdrawal of its services from the state, arguing that developing separate app functionalities solely for New Mexico residents "does not make economic or engineering sense."

The trial's outcome could reverberate beyond New Mexico, potentially influencing future regulations and similar legal actions against social media companies nationwide. The state's lawyers have contended that Meta misled residents regarding the safety of its apps concerning child exploitation and associated harms.

The proceedings follow a recent jury verdict in a separate, but related, personal injury trial that also found Meta and Google's YouTube negligent. This broader legal landscape has drawn comparisons to the long-fought tobacco litigation, highlighting the growing scrutiny on the social media industry's impact on young users.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is New Mexico asking Meta to do in the trial starting May 4, 2026?
New Mexico wants Meta to add more child safety features to apps like Instagram and Facebook. This includes requiring parents to link child accounts and improving age checks to stop child exploitation.
Q: Why is New Mexico suing Meta?
The state believes Meta's apps create a public safety hazard and have harmed children. A previous jury found Meta liable for $375 million for endangering kids' mental health and not doing enough about child exploitation.
Q: What is Meta's response to New Mexico's demands?
Meta says the state's requests are too hard to do and could hurt free speech. The company warned it might have to stop offering its services in New Mexico if forced to comply.
Q: What could happen after this trial?
The outcome of this trial could lead to new rules for social media companies across the U.S. and affect other lawsuits against them.