Here & Now Anytime Why NM Meta child safety verdict could be 'first crack in the dam'
Mar 25, 2026
Samantha Gross, energy policy expert at Brookings, outlines how the Middle East war is reshaping global oil markets. Jake Bittle, Grist reporter on energy and environment, examines the Interior Department settlement that stalled a major offshore wind project. Raúl Torrez, New Mexico attorney general, recounts his landmark civil suit alleging Meta concealed harms to children on its platforms.
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Meta Prioritized Engagement Over Child Safety
- Meta prioritized engagement and profits over child safety on Facebook and Instagram.
- New Mexico's undercover 13-year-old account was flooded with sexual solicitations and Meta advised how to grow and monetize the account.
Limit Teen Access To Engagement-Driven Apps
- Parents should treat platforms driven by engagement with caution for underage users.
- Raúl Torrez warns the same features that increase engagement also connect predators to kids, so limit unsupervised access.
Verdict Could Bypass Section 230 Shield
- The New Mexico verdict is framed as a products liability breakthrough beyond Section 230 protections.
- Torrez plans public nuisance claims and injunctive relief to force design changes like algorithm tweaks and monitors.