Instagram flagged explicit messages to minors in 2018. Image-blurring arrived six years later

Unsealed court filings in MDL No. 3047 allege Meta knew as early as 2018 that minors on Instagram were receiving explicit images but delayed rolling out a client-side blurring classifier and default-private teen accounts until 2024. Internal data reportedly showed significant teen exposure to unwanted nudity and self-harm content, while a whistleblower and an independent audit questioned the efficacy and prioritization of safety measures. Meta cites interim protections and parental controls, but the case centers on whether growth was favored over teen well-being.