The attorney general of New Mexico, who previously sued Meta for failing to protect children from sexual predators and for making false safety claims about its platforms, announced on Monday that his office will investigate how the company’s paid-subscription services attract predators.
Attorney General Raúl Torrez stated that he has formally requested documentation from the social media company regarding subscriptions on Facebook and Instagram, which are often accessible on children’s accounts managed by parents.
While Instagram prohibits users under 13, accounts dedicated to children are allowed as long as they are overseen by an adult. A recent investigation by The New York Times revealed that certain accounts run by moms charge followers up to $19.99 per month for extra photos, chat sessions, and other perks.
The Times discovered that adult men subscribe to these accounts, some of whom engage in discussions about the girls in a sexual manner.
“This disturbing behavior poses a threat to children, and continues despite lawsuits and congressional investigations,” said Mr. Torrez in a statement.
Mr. Torrez filed a complaint in December accusing Meta of facilitating harmful interactions between adults and minors on Facebook and Instagram, and of failing to identify and remove such content when reported. The allegations were supported by accounts created by Mr. Torrez’s office, including one for a fictitious 14-year-old girl that received an offer of $180,000 for a pornographic video appearance.
Although Instagram’s rules forbid users under 18 from offering subscriptions, mom-run accounts bypass this restriction.
“The reporting by The New York Times on Meta’s creation of a market funded by child predators is deeply troubling,” said Mr. Torrez. “After reading The Times’s article, I have requested additional documents from Meta based on these alarming findings.”
Instagram introduced subscriptions in 2022 as social media platforms compete for users in the creator economy. Instagram does not take a percentage of subscription revenues, but benefits when influencers and popular users choose the platform to grow their fan base.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Meta employees expressed concerns about the subscription service rollout. Some parents were aware that they were producing content for the sexual gratification of adults.
Some accounts offer outtakes, behind-the-scenes photos, and other exclusive content in their subscriptions, seen as a way for parents to earn extra money for their girl influencers. Many mothers spend hours blocking inappropriate followers, but continue to run the accounts even as their daughters grow older, citing the large following as beneficial for promoting their daughters on Instagram.
Over 40 state attorneys general also sued Meta last year, alleging that its products were harmful to teens and young adolescents, with the company being aware of these harms.
In a statement on Monday, Meta spokesman Andy Stone did not address Mr. Torrez’s request for information, reiterating previous responses to legal actions against the company.
“Child exploitation is a terrible crime, and online predators are determined criminals,” he stated. “We utilize advanced technology, employ child safety experts, report content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and collaborate with other companies and law enforcement, including state attorneys general, to combat predators.”
