At a Glance
- Meta wants a New Mexico court to exclude research on youth mental health, a teen suicide case, and Mark Zuckerberg’s college years.
- The company argues the topics are irrelevant to claims it violated the state’s Unfair Practices Act.
- Why it matters: The rulings could shape what jurors hear in a landmark case over child safety on Facebook and Instagram.
Meta is pushing to exclude a sweeping list of evidence as it faces trial in New Mexico for allegedly failing to protect minors from sexual exploitation on its platforms. In a series of pretrial motions, the company has asked the judge to bar discussion of youth-mental-health studies, a British teen’s suicide linked to Instagram content, CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard years, and even its own AI chatbots.
What Meta Wants Kept Out
According to filings reviewed by News Of Fort Worth, Meta’s requests include:
- Research articles on social media and youth mental health
- Any mention of former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s public advisories or op-eds calling for warning labels
- References to Molly Russell, a British teenager who died by suicide in 2017 after viewing self-harm content on Instagram
- Details of Zuckerberg’s 2003 attractiveness-rating website created while he was a Harvard student
- Evidence of Meta’s finances, market capitalization, or employee compensation
- Use of the term “whistleblower” for potential witnesses
- Discussion of the company’s AI chatbots
Meta contends these topics are “irrelevant, inadmissible hearsay, and unduly prejudicial,” and could distract jurors from the core question: whether the company violated New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act through its handling of child-safety features.
The State’s Claims
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed suit in late 2023, alleging Meta proactively served pornographic content to minors and failed to stop human trafficking and sexual abuse on Facebook and Instagram. Investigators created fake underage accounts that quickly received explicit messages and algorithm-promoted adult content. In another test, a fake profile of a mother attempting to traffic her daughter drew suggestive comments that went unflagged.
Legal Scholars Call Some Requests Aggressive
While motions in limine are routine, two legal scholars tell News Of Fort Worth that some of Meta’s requests go further than usual. Mark Lemley, a Stanford Law professor, says barring all mention of self-harm, statewide harms, or chatbots “seem quite aggressive,” though he notes the full context of the case could matter.
Meta’s Defense
Meta spokesperson Aaron Simpson told News Of Fort Worth the company has spent over a decade working with parents, experts, and law enforcement, citing recent Teen Accounts with built-in protections. “While New Mexico makes sensationalist, irrelevant and distracting arguments, we’re focused on demonstrating our longstanding commitment to supporting young people,” Simpson said.
Trial Timeline
Jury selection in Santa Fe is scheduled for February 2. The outcome could influence dozens of related lawsuits across the U.S. claiming Meta products harm youth mental health.
