New Mexico's attorney general filed a lawsuit last year accusing Meta of failing to protect children from sexual predators and making false claims about the safety of its platform, but the attorney general's office on Monday has announced an investigation into how its paid subscription services are attracting criminals.
Attorney General Raul Torres said he has formally requested documents from social media companies regarding Facebook and Instagram subscriptions that are frequently available on children's accounts run by their parents.
Instagram does not allow users under the age of 13, but accounts intended only for children are allowed as long as they are managed by an adult. The New York Times published an investigation into girl influencers on the platform Thursday, finding that accounts run by so-called moms charge followers up to $19.99 a month for additional photos, chat sessions and other additional fees. It was reported that
The Times found that adult men subscribed to the account, and some actively participated in forums discussing girls in sexual terms.
“This deeply disturbing pattern of behavior puts children at risk and continues despite a flurry of lawsuits and congressional investigations,” Torres said in a statement.
Torrez filed a lawsuit in December accusing Meta of enabling harmful behavior between adults and minors on Facebook and Instagram and failing to detect and remove such behavior when it was reported. submitted a letter. The allegations are based in part on an investigation into accounts created by Torrez's office, including one of a fictitious 14-year-old girl who was offered $180,000 to appear in a pornographic video. It was
Instagram's rules prohibit users under 18 from signing up for subscriptions, but the account run by the mother circumvents that restriction.
“I found the New York Times' reporting on meth creating a market funded by child predators very disturbing,” Torrez said. “After reading the Times article, I sent Mehta a new request for materials based on my surprising findings.”
Instagram introduced subscriptions in 2022. The addition comes as social media companies are fiercely competing to attract people working in the so-called creator economy. Instagram doesn't take a cut from subscription revenue, but it does benefit influencers and other popular users if they choose the platform to build a fan base.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Meta staffers are sounding the alarm about the subscription service's rollout. The article said the parents of some of the anonymous Meta employees said they knew they were producing content for “the sexual gratification of other adults.”
Some of these accounts include outtakes, behind-the-scenes photos, and other “exclusive content” with their subscription services. Parents consider these to be a good way for girl influencers to earn extra money. Numerous mothers told the Times they spent countless hours blocking “creepy” men from following their accounts, and many mothers told the Times their daughters were now teenagers. The account continues to run after that. Some said that having so many followers on Instagram was helpful in promoting their daughter.
A group of more than 40 other state attorneys general also filed suit in state and federal court last year, alleging that Meth's products were harmful to teens and young adults and that the company was aware of such harm. filed a lawsuit.
Meta spokesman Andy Stone did not address Torrez's new request for information in a statement Monday. He reiterated his previous response to lawsuits against the company.
“Child exploitation is a horrific crime and online predators are determined criminals,” he said. “We use advanced technology, employ child safety experts, report content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and communicate information and information with other companies and law enforcement agencies, including state attorneys general. We are sharing tools to help root out looters.”
