FILE-New Meta sign is seen as Facebook changes its company name to Meta at the One Hacker Way in Menlo Park, California, United States on October 28, 2021. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Meta is mulling the idea of shutting down its social media services in New Mexico in response to state prosecutors calling for changes to the tech company's social media platforms, including Instagram, to safeguard the mental health and safety of children.
News of this potential action comes ahead of a bench trial next week on accusations that Meta poses a public annoyance.
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The Associated Press reported that this marks the second facet of a case that resulted in $375 million in civil penalties on a jury’s determination that Meta knowingly hurt children’s mental health and hid what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its social media platforms.
Prosecutors are asking the court to order changes to child accounts on social media targeting addictive features, improving age verification, and preventing child sexual exploitation through default privacy settings and closer supervision.
What would Facebook and Instagram potentially shutting down in New Mexico mean?
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If Meta were to withdraw from New Mexico, the social media platform would satisfy any worries some would have about harm to children.
New Mexico’s case against Meta is the first to reach trial among over 40 state attorneys general who have filed lawsuits against the organization alleging it contributes to a mental health crisis among young users
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The AP noted that New Mexico also wants all child accounts on Meta social media platforms to have an associated parent or guardian, and a court-supervised child safety device to monitor improvements over time.
In April, a Los Angeles jury determined that both Meta and YouTube were liable for harm to children using their social media platforms and validated concerns about the dangers of social media.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.