Meta Chose Growth Over Protecting Kids on Instagram
Court documents expose years of internal conflict at Meta over teen safety versus engagement metrics.
Newly unsealed court documents from a New Mexico trial paint a damning picture inside Meta. Employees knew Instagram had a serious problem with potential child groomers — and they flagged it repeatedly. But the company chose growth over fixes.
The internal records reveal deep divisions between teams pushing teen safety initiatives and those laser-focused on engagement and user growth metrics. When the two goals clashed, growth won.
This wasn't a blind spot. Staff acknowledged the grooming risks for years. The safety measures that could have addressed the issue kept getting sidelined because they threatened the numbers Meta cared about most.
The revelations land as Meta continues to face mounting legal and regulatory pressure over how its platforms affect young users. These documents suggest the company's internal priorities were exactly what critics have long suspected.