According to an article on Concerned Women for America’s website, it has been over a year since Mark Zuckerberg stood before grieving parents and apologized for the harm his platforms have caused children. He promised to make things right, to protect future users from exploitation. Yet last week, a Senate hearing revealed that Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has not only failed to protect children but may have actively worked to hide the dangers of its products.
Internal documents unsealed in a New Mexico lawsuit show that as many as 100,000 children are harassed daily on Facebook and Instagram. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports that nearly 85% of reports of child sexual abuse materials in 2022 involved Meta platforms. Furthermore, the apparent decline in reports in 2025 was not due to improved safeguards but rather to the implementation of end-to-end encryption, which made many instances of abuse invisible to authorities.
Worse, former Meta researchers testified that they were repeatedly blocked from investigating and reporting dangers, particularly in the context of virtual reality. Children on these platforms are exposed to bullying, sexual solicitation, mature content, and adult experiences, all without meaningful oversight. One whistleblower told the Senate that Meta actively demanded the deletion of evidence documenting abuse.
If a multi-billion-dollar corporation can prioritize profits over child safety, imagine the consequences when government leaders fail to act. In New Mexico’s 2025 legislative session, a bill aimed at providing crucial protections for children—HB 7—did not make it out of committee. Other proposals addressing juvenile crime and youth safety also stalled. While national attention focuses on the dangers of social media, our state lawmakers have missed an opportunity to strengthen protections for New Mexico’s children.
It is time to ask the hard questions: Where is New Mexico’s concern for its children? Why are protective bills not prioritized? How long will we tolerate a system where corporations can hide abuse and legislators fail to protect the most vulnerable citizens?
New Mexico lawmakers must act decisively in 2026, passing legislation that protects minors, strengthens enforcement against abuse, and holds platforms accountable. At the federal level, Congress must continue efforts such as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) to provide uniform safeguards for children nationwide.
Our children cannot wait for corporate profits or legislative delays. They deserve leaders who act, who prioritize safety over politics and protection over excuses. Anything less is a failure we cannot afford.
Nickie McCarty is the State Director for Concerned Women for America of New Mexico. She is also a former educator and athletic director.
