Social media platforms have long been a focal point for children’s rights advocates and lawmakers, particularly over concerns about protecting underage users from online sexual exploitation and exposure to sensitive content. These concerns have led to the creation and enforcement of various laws to safeguard children on social media, yet significant gaps remain.
According to a report by Reuters, the state of New Mexico is now taking Meta Platforms to court, accusing the company of exposing children and teenagers to sexual exploitation and making money out of it. The trial is set to begin next week in Santa Fe District Court and is expected to last seven to eight weeks. This marks the first time Meta has faced a jury trial over such allegations.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez alleges that Meta promoted illegal content and facilitated the sexual exploitation of children across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The lawsuit further claims that Meta allowed sexual predators to access underage users with insufficient safeguards in place. In response, Meta has denied all allegations and emphasized the measures it has implemented to protect minors on its platforms.
The case against Meta was initiated in 2023, when the former prosecutor and his team conducted an undercover operation known as Operation MetaPhile. As part of the operation, the team created social media profiles posing as users under 14. These accounts then began receiving sexually explicit material from adult users. Torrez’s office stated that these interactions led to criminal charges being filed against three individuals.
In addition to allegations of sexual exploitation, the state of New Mexico has also accused Meta of harming children’s mental health by designing addictive features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay videos.
"For over a decade, we’ve listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement, and conducted in-depth research to understand the issues that matter most. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, and we’re always working to do better,” a Meta spokesperson said.
New Mexico is now seeking monetary damages as well as changes to Meta-owned platforms to improve children’s safety.