Rosalind Evans
Prominent tech CEOs, including Mark Zuckerberg from Meta, find themselves once again under the congressional microscope as concerns about the potential harm inflicted on teenagers by social media platforms continue to grow. These worries are increasingly linked to issues such as depression and suicidal tendencies among young users.
In the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., lawmakers are demanding concrete actions from tech giants, moving beyond their customary assurances of empowering teenagers and parents to make responsible online choices. With a presidential election on the horizon and state legislators taking the lead, Congress is pushing for more substantial efforts to tackle these pressing concerns.
Set to testify alongside Mark Zuckerberg at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing are CEOs from TikTok, Snap, Discord, and X. For some, including X CEO Linda Yaccarino, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and Discord CEO Jason Citron, this marks their inaugural appearance before Congress.
During the hearing, these tech CEOs plan to showcase the tools and policies their platforms have put in place to protect children and provide parents with greater control over their children’s online experiences. Companies like Snap and Discord are distinguishing themselves from Meta’s approach by emphasizing that they do not rely on addictive or harmful algorithmically recommended content.
However, critics, including parents and online safety advocates, argue that these tools fall short, placing an undue burden on parents and young users. They contend that tech platforms can no longer be entrusted to self-regulate.
Experts are urging the congressional committee to push for substantial changes, such as separating advertising and marketing systems from services targeting youth. The emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools has added urgency to the call for default safety features on tech platforms.
Several major platforms, including Meta, Snapchat, Discord, and TikTok, have introduced oversight tools enabling parents to monitor their teenagers’ online activities and exert control. Some platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, have implemented features like “take a break” reminders and screen time limits to safeguard teens from harmful content.
Meta recently proposed federal legislation calling for app stores, rather than social media companies, to verify users’ ages and enforce age restrictions. They have also unveiled various youth safety measures, including concealing “age-inappropriate content” from teen feeds and promoting stricter security settings.
Snapchat has expanded its parental oversight tool, known as Family Center, offering parents more control over their teenagers’ interactions with the app.
This hearing is the latest in a series of congressional appearances by tech leaders, partly prompted by the revelations from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen in late 2021. While some updates have been welcomed, critics argue that they still place too much responsibility on parents. They believe that the tech industry’s delay in implementing safety updates highlights the ineffectiveness of self-regulation.
Tech companies are striving to strike a balance between safety and empowerment for young users while avoiding overly restrictive content policies. Concurrently, momentum for social media regulation is gaining momentum beyond the confines of Congress. Several states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Utah, have passed laws restricting social media access for teens, some requiring parental consent for minor accounts. Legal challenges from the tech industry cite potential threats to First Amendment rights and privacy.
State-backed and consumer lawsuits against tech companies are on the rise, exerting pressure for more stringent regulation. The hearing offers lawmakers an opportunity to question smaller industry players, like X and Discord, about their efforts to enhance youth safety.
As demands for industry-wide solutions intensify, Wednesday’s hearing takes on added significance, as it could shape the future landscape of child safety on social media platforms.
