Edited by: TJVNews.com

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is under intense scrutiny as the New Mexico attorney general’s office files a bombshell civil lawsuit, alleging that underage users on the platforms are exposed to explicit adult content and disturbing messages from alleged child predators, as was reported by the New York Post. The lawsuit, filed in New Mexico state court, accuses Meta and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg of failing to adequately protect young users, further fueling the debate surrounding the impact of social media on youth mental health.

The Post report indicated that the New Mexico state investigators conducted an alarming test by setting up test accounts for four fictional children on Facebook and Instagram. Utilizing AI-generated photos portraying children aged 14 or younger, the investigators sought to assess the platforms’ vulnerabilities, according to the Post report. Shockingly, the complaint asserts that underage users encountered explicit content, including “pictures and videos of genitalia” and disturbing messages from alleged child predators.

The lawsuit contends that Meta’s negligence has turned Facebook and Instagram into a marketplace for predators seeking to exploit children. The report in the Post said that it alleges that the company’s conduct is not only unacceptable but unlawful. The complaint emphasizes Meta’s failure to implement adequate safeguards, placing the responsibility on Zuckerberg for app design decisions that exposed children to such risks.

Mark Zuckerberg, named as a co-defendant in the lawsuit, faces personal responsibility for the alleged lapses in app design that facilitated the exposure of underage users to explicit content and predatory behavior, as was noted in the Post report. The legal action positions Zuckerberg at the center of accountability for Meta’s failure to protect vulnerable users.

The lawsuit aligns with previous allegations against Meta, echoing concerns raised by a coalition of 33 state attorneys general who sued the company in October. According to the Post report, the collective action accused Meta of knowingly incorporating addictive features into its apps, exacerbating a youth mental health crisis. The state of New Mexico’s claims parallel findings from a recent Wall Street Journal investigation, which unveiled the recommendation of explicit content to adult users following children on Instagram Reels, the Post reported.

One disturbing example outlined in the lawsuit involves a test account named “Issa Bee,” claiming to be a 13-year-old girl from Albuquerque, New Mexico. As has been reported in the Post, the fake profile garnered over 6,700 followers, predominantly males aged 18 to 40. The lawsuit cites explicit content received on Facebook Messenger, including pictures and videos of genitalia, with the user having no means to screen or preview such messages.

The account received explicit content, horrifying sexual propositions, and an offer of $5,000 a week to be a ‘sugar baby,’ the Post reported. Disturbingly, despite overtly sexualized messages, Facebook reportedly failed to scan messages for child safety purposes and did not remove or report any of the received messages.

The investigators discovered that Instagram’s content recommendations for the “Bee” account included explicit and sexualized images of teenage girls. This revelation raises questions about the adequacy of Meta’s algorithms and content moderation in protecting underage users from inappropriate material.

The Post report also indicated that the lawsuit reveals the creation of a test account purportedly belonging to the girl’s mother, filled with posts suggesting she was willing to sexually traffic her daughter. Another test account, claiming to be a 13-year-old girl, received a recommendation to follow a Facebook account allegedly selling sexual videos, the Post report said. In a separate case, a 14-year-old test account, part of a Facebook job-seeking group, was solicited with a six-figure offer for engaging in explicit content.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez accused Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other executives of being aware of the potential harm their platforms pose to young users, as was reported in the Post. The lawsuit contends that despite assurances to Congress and the public, Meta prioritizes engagement and ad revenue over the safety of vulnerable members of society.

Meta, in response to the lawsuit, did not comment specifically on the allegations but emphasized its commitment to child safety. The Post report said that the company highlighted its use of sophisticated technology, child safety experts, and collaboration with law enforcement to address issues related to child exploitation on its platforms.

The New Mexico lawsuit not only exposes Meta to potential legal consequences but also brings to light the complex challenges of regulating content on social media platforms. The attorney general’s office has submitted evidence to local law enforcement for possible prosecution of solicitation attempts.