Micah Jonah
January 31, 2026
Meta Platforms is set to face trial next week in the United States after the state of New Mexico accused the social media company of exposing children, teenagers to sexual exploitation on its platforms and profiting from the alleged activities.
The lawsuit, filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, alleges that Meta enabled the spread of illegal content and allowed sexual exploitation of minors on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The state claims the company gave predators easy access to underage users, in some cases leading to real world abuse and human trafficking.
Jury selection is expected to begin on Monday at the Santa Fe District Court, with the trial projected to last between seven and eight weeks. It is the first case of its kind against Meta to reach a jury.
Meta has denied the allegations, saying it has put extensive safeguards in place to protect young users. The company also argues that it is shielded from liability under the First Amendment of the US Constitution and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally protects online platforms from lawsuits over user generated content.
The case stems from an undercover operation carried out in 2023 by the New Mexico Attorney General’s office. Investigators created accounts posing as users under the age of 14 and reported receiving sexually explicit material and messages from adults. The operation led to criminal charges against three individuals, according to the state.
New Mexico further alleges that Meta designed its platforms to maximize user engagement despite evidence that such features could harm children’s mental health. The lawsuit claims internal company documents acknowledged risks linked to exploitation and mental health but failed to introduce basic safety tools such as effective age verification.
The state is seeking monetary damages and a court order compelling Meta to introduce stronger measures to improve child safety on its platforms.
In response, Meta described the claims as exaggerated, said it has spent years working with parents, experts and law enforcement to address safety concerns involving young users.
The trial comes as Meta continues to face increased scrutiny in the United States over child safety and the impact of social media on young people.
