INVESTIGATINGTechnologyNew Mexico jury verdict: $375M against Meta for failing to protect children from predators on Instagram and Facebook. Came one day before the separate addiction verdict. Two massive verdicts in two days.
“New Mexico jury verdict: $375M against Meta for failing to protect children from predators on Instagram and Facebook. Came one day before the separate addiction verdict. Two massive verdicts in two days.”
One day before a separate jury found Meta guilty of deliberately addicting children, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for failing to protect children from predators on Instagram and Facebook. Two verdicts. Two days. Two different ways Meta harmed children and did nothing about it.
The jury found that Meta failed to implement adequate protections against predators using its platforms to contact, groom, and exploit children. The $375 million verdict reflects the jury's assessment that Meta's inaction wasn't negligent — it was a choice.
Meta's own internal research — revealed through the Haugen whistleblower disclosures and subsequent investigations — showed the company was aware of predatory behavior on its platforms. Reports were filed. Patterns were identified. And Meta chose not to invest the resources necessary to stop it because engagement metrics took priority.
Monday: $375 million for failing to stop predators. Tuesday: guilty verdict for deliberately designing addictive features that harm children. In 48 hours, two different juries in two different cases independently concluded that Meta knowingly harmed children and chose profit over protection.
American juries are sending a clear message: we see through the "we invest in safety" press releases. We see the internal documents. We see the choices. And we're holding you accountable. $375 million is the beginning, not the end.
No one's said anything yet. Be the first to drop your take.
