A trial beginning Monday in New Mexico will examine allegations that Meta’s platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—have negatively affected the mental health of young users. The case also seeks a court order that could require significant changes to how the company operates its services.

The hearing, taking place in Santa Fe, follows a lawsuit brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. The complaint argues that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to keep young people engaged in an addictive way and failed to adequately protect minors from risks such as sexual exploitation online.

This trial represents the second stage of the legal action. Earlier in March, a jury ruled that Meta violated the state’s consumer protection laws by misleading users about the safety of Facebook and Instagram for children and teenagers. That ruling also resulted in $375 million in damages against the company.

Now, the court will consider whether Meta’s platforms qualify as a “public nuisance” under state law. If the judge agrees, it could open the door to sweeping remedies aimed at reducing potential harm to young users. State officials are reportedly seeking additional damages in the billions, along with platform-level reforms. Proposed changes include stronger age verification systems, adjustments to recommendation algorithms to reduce harmful content exposure for minors, and disabling features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling for younger users.

Meta, however, maintains that it has already implemented strong safeguards for teens. The company disputes the claims and argues there is no conclusive scientific proof linking social media use directly to mental health disorders. It also suggests that some of the proposed restrictions may be impractical and could even lead to service disruptions in the state. The case is part of a broader wave of lawsuits across the United States accusing Meta and other tech companies of intentionally designing platforms that encourage excessive use among teenagers, contributing to concerns about youth mental health.

Meta has also cautioned investors that increasing legal pressure in both the U.S. and Europe could have a significant impact on its business performance and financial outlook. Attorney General Torrez has stated that the goal of the case is not only to hold the company accountable in New Mexico but also to establish broader standards for how social media platforms should protect young users in the future. Meta argues that focusing on a single platform overlooks the wider ecosystem of apps used by teenagers today and has warned that the requested changes could be difficult to implement at scale.