Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, will go to trial next week in a lawsuit filed by the state of New Mexico. This is the first case of its kind against the social media giant to reach a jury.
The lawsuit, filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, alleges that Meta exposed children and teenagers to sexual exploitation on its platforms and profited from it. The case claims the company allowed illegal content to spread and enabled predators to access underage users, often leading to real-world abuse and human trafficking.
According to the lawsuit, Meta’s platforms gave predators easy ways to connect with minors, creating dangerous situations for children and teens. The case is seen as a major test of social media companies’ responsibility for protecting young users from online harm.
The trial will examine whether Meta failed to take adequate steps to prevent sexual exploitation and whether it benefited financially from content that endangered minors. Lawyers and advocates will closely watch the proceedings, as the outcome could influence how social media companies regulate content and protect children in the future.