Meta researcher warned 500K kids ‘per DAY’ targeted by creeps on Instagram, Facebook
A Landmark Jury Trial Unveils Startling Revelations about Meta Platforms
A crucial Meta researcher disclosed alarming information to the company’s executives, revealing that there could be up to 500,000 cases of online sexual exploitation daily on Facebook and Instagram. These explosive revelations were unsealed on the eve of a significant jury trial.
The trial initiated by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez in state court accuses Mark Zuckerberg’s social media giant of exposing children to the risks of sexual exploitation and mental health harm through disturbing messages, “sextortion” schemes, and human trafficking.
The lawsuit argues that this has resulted in a crisis among teen social media users, leading to issues like anxiety, depression, self-harm, and a rise in suicides.
Prior to the trial, the state’s legal team referenced an internal email from Malia Andrus, who was in child safety-related roles at Meta from August 2017 to October 2024. In the email, Andrus mentioned that approximately 500,000 victims per day in English-speaking markets were targeted by inappropriate messages.
“We expect the true situation is worse,” Andrus stated in a June 2020 email, as per court records.
Another message from Andrus highlighted how the vast user bases of Facebook and Instagram have provided predators with a tool to target children on an unprecedented scale.
“I just think, nowhere in the history of humanity could you have a secret conversation with 1000 people,” she expressed. “I’m actually scared of the ramifications here.”
The legal battles Meta faces this year include a trial accusing both Meta and Google-owned YouTube of contributing to social media addiction in young users. The FTC also recently appealed its loss in a significant antitrust lawsuit seeking a breakup of Meta.
Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, described the multiple trials against Meta as a “split screen of Mark Zuckerberg nightmares.” These trials are expected to hold Big Tech CEOs accountable, similar to past cases against other industries like Big Tobacco and Big Pharma.
The lawsuit by New Mexico has drawn attention due to the disturbing details that emerged during the state’s investigation into Meta’s practices.
Test accounts set up by state investigators reportedly received adult content and messages from alleged child predators, including offers to participate in pornographic videos for payment.
Additionally, internal emails revealed concerns about the effectiveness of age-verification tools on Instagram, with Andrus stating that they were easily bypassed by underage users.
Meta defended its efforts to protect children, emphasizing its long-term commitment to supporting young people despite the sensationalist arguments presented by New Mexico.
Andrus, who left Meta in 2024 and now works in an online safety role for OpenAI, did not provide a comment.
New Mexico’s case has shed light on Meta’s handling of online sexual abuse, with Andrus’s insights into the company’s practices playing a crucial role in the legal proceedings.
As the trial approaches, Meta’s attempts to prevent the discussion of sensitive topics like AI chatbots, research surveys on mental health effects, and details of undercover operations conducted by New Mexico investigators were rejected by Judge Biedscheid during pretrial hearings.
Internal documents revealed that Zuckerberg approved the use of Meta’s AI chatbots by minors despite warnings from safety staff about potential misuse for romantic or sexual conversations.
New Mexico’s Attorney General Torrez has been vocal in his criticism of Zuckerberg, highlighting concerns about Instagram’s PG-13 rating system and accusing Meta of downplaying the risks to children.
Meta has refuted these claims, accusing Torrez of misrepresenting facts and ignoring the company’s efforts to enhance safety measures for children.
