Meta on trial over child safety: can it really protect its next generation of users?

New Mexico prosecutors are suing Meta, alleging the company prioritized profits and user engagement over child safety despite a surge in child abuse on Instagram and Facebook. The landmark trial, now in its fifth week, centers on whether Meta's business model knowingly exposed minors to harm while the company pursued engagement metrics that drive advertising revenue. The state attorney general rested its case on March 5, with proceedings expected to continue for another week, making this one of the first major state-level child safety trials against the social media giant. The outcome could establish legal precedent for how platforms are held accountable for protecting minors from exploitation and abuse. Meta faces mounting pressure from regulators and lawmakers nationwide over its handling of child safety on its platforms.