New Mexico has a plan to overhaul Facebook and Instagram

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez's office is pursuing significant changes to Meta's platforms, Facebook and Instagram, following a recent $375 million jury verdict against the company. In the second phase of a landmark trial, attorney David Ackerman, representing the state, has proposed a $3.7 billion abatement plan. This plan would require Meta to finance programs for mental health providers, law enforcement, and educators. The state is advocating for fundamental changes to Meta's services, including enhanced age verification measures and a 99 percent detection rate for new child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The state is also requesting that Meta implement restrictions on its features to reduce addiction and improve child safety. This includes preventing notifications to teenagers during late-night hours and school days, as well as establishing default privacy settings to better protect children from exploitation. The trial aims to impose stricter oversight on Meta's algorithms and features to ensure the safety of young users. The requests made by New Mexico reflect a broader concern regarding the impact of social media on youth mental health and safety. The proposed changes are part of a comprehensive strategy to hold Meta accountable for its role in these issues and to enhance protections for children using its platforms. The outcome of this trial could set significant precedents for how social media companies operate in relation to child safety.