WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lawmakers on each side of the aisle agreed that Large Tech CEOs have not accomplished sufficient to guard youngsters utilizing social media and that platforms must be reined in to guard youngsters from indoctrination and exploitation.
“Tech CEOs have utterly and completely failed to act adequately to protect children online, and that’s the reason why they lost trust,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal informed Fox Information. “They completely squandered their credibility.”
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“Everyone agrees, Republicans and Democrats, that we need to move forward with rules and safeguards for kids that are in the law and not rely on them to do the right thing,” the Connecticut Democrat stated.
The chief executives of TikTok, X, Meta, Snap and Discord testified earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday throughout a listening to contemplating what legal responsibility the platforms ought to face if dangerous content material they host targets or exploits youngsters. The viewers included victims and households of victims of consuming issues, self-harm, suicide and drug-related deaths allegedly stemming from harmful social media content.
From left to proper, Discord CEO Jason Citron, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, X CEO Linda Yaccarino and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testify in the course of the Senate Judiciary Committee listening to, “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis,” in Washington, DC, on January 31, 2024. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP through Getty Pictures)
“The problem gets worse, not better,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, the committee’s high Republican, informed Fox Information. Throughout the listening to, he stated Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg had blood on his arms and accused him of defending “a product that’s killing people.”
“I think we need a system where we have a digital regulatory commission,” Graham informed Fox Information after the listening to.
Zuckerberg apologized to victims’ households in the course of the listening to after Sen. Josh Hawley pressed him. The tech large chief stood up and stated “no one should have to go through the things that your families suffered” whereas going through the viewers.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to victims of relations of kid exploitation and cyberbullying on-line throughout a Senate listening to. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP through Getty Pictures)
However Rep. Mike Garcia stated free speech protections, including Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, have prevented Congress from taking extra motion to control social media. He stated Congress must work with Large Tech CEOs to determine higher safety from “nefarious” content material with out violating the First Amendment.
“I don’t think we can ever do enough to safeguard our children on social media,” the California Republican stated. “We got to make sure the protections are in place while still honoring the Constitution.”
Rep. Jim Clyburn stated Big Tech hasn’t protected children and that rules must be put in place.
“We need to rein them in,” the South Carolina Democrat stated.
Members of the family of younger victims of consuming issues, self-harm, suicide and drug-related deaths related to dangerous social media content material attended a Senate Judiciary Committee listening to accusing Large Tech CEOs of not doing sufficient to guard youngsters from on-line hurt. (iStock)
Surgeon Common Dr. Vivek Murthy launched an advisory final yr, “Social Media and Youth Mental Health,” about social media’s potential dangerous results on youngsters and adolescents. Elevated social media use amongst 14-year-olds, for instance, correlated to poor sleep, poor physique picture, low shallowness and better depressive signs, in response to a 2022 examine cited within the report.
In the meantime, social media platforms have turn into more and more used amongst youngsters, in response to a Pew Research Center survey of over 1,400 13 to 17-years-olds performed final fall. Almost all teenagers surveyed – 95% – used YouTube, over two-thirds – 67% – used TikTok and greater than half had Instagram and Snapchat.
“There are obviously a lot of concerns, particularly with the way young children are being targeted for advertising, for indoctrination,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said, adding that she had elevated concerns about Chinese influence on TikTok.
Some Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill raised concerns about Chinese influence on TikTok and accused Big Tech CEOs of not doing enough to safeguard children from exploitation. (Fox News)
“We need to see more protection for our children on the internet so they’re not focused in methods that may harm them mentally, emotionally or bodily,” the New York Republican stated.
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Blumenthal and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, co-sponsors of the Children On-line Security Act, met with households of cyberbullying and on-line little one exploitation victims on Thursday earlier than the group started a day of advocacy to push lawmakers to enact laws to safeguard youngsters on social media. The bipartisan Children On-line Security Act — one among a number of Senate payments launched to guard youngsters from on-line hurt — would give tech corporations necessities to keep kids safe from harmful content on social media.
“We have a responsibility to respect children of course, but it starts with parents,” Rep. Wealthy McCormick stated. “It’s a slippery slope.”
Ramiro Vargas contributed to the accompanying video.
