New Mexico seeks $3.7B, platform overhaul in youth harm trial against Meta Platforms
State asks judge to declare Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp a “public nuisance”
New Mexico is asking a state judge to order sweeping changes to social media and impose billions in penalties on Meta Platforms, escalating one of the most closely watched youth-harm cases in the country.
In opening statements Monday, lawyers for the state urged the court to declare Meta’s platforms a “public nuisance,” impose State asks judge to declare Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp a “public nuisance,” impose a $3.7 billion in damages and order major product redesigns affecting young users on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, Reuters reported.
“Across the country, children are begging for help,” said attorney David Ackerman, arguing the platforms have contributed to a worsening youth mental health crisis.
Second phase after jury verdict
The trial marks the second phase of a lawsuit brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
In March, a jury found Meta violated state consumer protection laws
The jury awarded $375 million in damages
Meta has said it plans to appeal
Now, the judge — Bryan Biedscheid — will decide whether the company’s conduct rises to the level of a public nuisance, a legal finding that could unlock broader remedies.
What the state wants
New Mexico is pushing for structural changes to how social media works for minors, including:
Age verification requirements
Algorithm changes to prioritize “quality” content
Ending autoplay and infinite scroll for young users
State lawyers argue these features are deliberately designed to keep kids engaged — and potentially addicted — while exposing them to harmful content, including sexual exploitation risks.
Meta: ‘This is regulatory overreach’
Meta pushed back, arguing the case stretches public nuisance law beyond its limits.
Attorney Alex Parkinson told the court the state is trying to regulate product design through the judiciary rather than the legislature.
“If social media is a public nuisance, then so is alcohol… cell phones… supermarkets,” Parkinson said.
He warned the requested changes could make it “untenable” for the company to operate in New Mexico.
Why this case matters
The lawsuit is part of a broader wave of litigation targeting social media companies over youth harm.
Public nuisance claims — once used for pollution or public safety hazards — are increasingly being applied to:
Tobacco
Opioids
Vaping
Climate-related harms
A ruling against Meta could:
Open the door to similar claims nationwide
Force industry-wide design changes
Accelerate federal or state regulation of social media
Meta has already warned investors that growing legal and regulatory pressure in the U.S. and Europe could significantly affect its business.
What this means for consumers (and parents)
If the state prevails, users — especially families — could see:
Less addictive design features for teens
More guardrails around harmful content
Stronger age verification systems
But critics warn changes could also:
Limit platform functionality
Trigger patchwork rules by state
Shift decisions about online design from lawmakers to courts
The bottom line
New Mexico’s case could redefine how courts treat social media — not just as platforms, but as products with public health consequences.
If the judge agrees that Meta’s apps constitute a public nuisance, it would mark a major legal turning point — one that could reshape how tech companies design their products for millions of young users.