Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri have testified that harms to children, including sexual exploitation and mental health detriments, are an inevitable consequence of operating social media platforms with billions of users. The statements were made during depositions presented as evidence in a trial in New Mexico beginning in early February and expected to last seven weeks.
Allegations Against Meta
The New Mexico attorney general alleges that Meta prioritizes profits and user engagement over the safety of children, knowingly enabling predators to exploit children on Facebook and Instagram. Meta disputes these allegations, pointing to safety measures including the introduction of “Teen Accounts” in September 2024, which automatically apply stricter privacy settings to users under 18.
According to testimony, the company’s “People you may know” algorithm was identified as a key factor in connecting potential victims with predators, accounting for 79% of identified cases in 2018. Approximately 30% of adults banned for targeting children on the platform subsequently returned and resumed the behavior.
Encryption and Safety Concerns
Zuckerberg authorized end-to-end encryption for Facebook Messenger in 2023, despite warnings from child safety groups, Thorn and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), that it could increase risks to children. Zuckerberg stated in a deposition that user privacy was a more pressing concern. Even as Meta maintains it can still take action on reported encrypted messages, child safety groups and law enforcement have expressed concern that encryption facilitates the sharing of child sexual abuse imagery.
Mosseri testified that Meta has developed technology to identify potentially suspicious accounts and prevent them from interacting with young users. In 2025, the company identified over 265 million Facebook accounts and 135 million Instagram accounts exhibiting potentially suspicious behavior and proactively blocked their interactions with teens.
However, internal audits revealed shortcomings in these safety measures. An internal presentation showed that Instagram’s safety team did not always prevent recommendations of teen accounts to potential violators and a December 2022 audit confirmed that Meta continued to recommend minor accounts to adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Meta’s stance on child safety?
Meta states it has “strict, longstanding rules against child exploitation” and has “invested billions to fight it,” but acknowledges that “no system can ever be perfect.”
What is end-to-end encryption and why is it controversial?
End-to-end encryption prevents anyone other than the sender and recipient from reading messages. While Zuckerberg stated users “really care about privacy,” child safety groups warn it can enable the undetected sharing of child sexual abuse imagery.
What steps has Meta taken to protect teens on its platforms?
Meta introduced “Teen Accounts” in September 2024 with stricter default settings, but researchers have identified gaps in these protections.
As social media platforms continue to evolve, how will companies balance the desire for user growth and engagement with the critical need to protect vulnerable populations?
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