The Texas Supreme Court recently ruled that Houston teenage sex trafficking victims can sue Facebook for the conduct of pimps who use Facebook and other social media platforms to prey on children. The decision comes ahead of World Day Against Trafficking of Persons on July 30.

It is not surprising the internet is the primary recruitment method for human trafficking. The 2020 Federal Human Trafficking Report found that by far, Facebook is the No. 1 platform used by sex traffickers to recruit victims.

The report found that 59% of all online sex trafficking occurs on Facebook, including both children and adults. The report states that 65% of child victims recruited on the internet were recruited on Facebook., with the majority (89%) between the age of 14-17. Facebook also owns the second-most active child recruiting site, Instagram (14%).

It's time for Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms to address this atrocity.