Social Media CEO Hearing: Main Takeaways
Are you concerned about the risk social media poses to children and teens?
What's the story?
- Social media CEOs – Meta, TikTok, Snap, Discord, and X (formerly known as Twitter) – testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday regarding the risk their sites pose to American youth.
- Wednesday's hearing portrayed a bipartisan consensus among lawmakers' criticisms of social media companies. Senators and Representatives from both sides of the aisle expressed shared concerns about how the platforms are impacting society.
- The hearing was emotional for many families of victims of social media who were present, leading to apologies from two CEOs.
The main takeaways
The role of the families and the victims
- The families, relatives, and friends of victims who had suffered or even lost their lives as a result of social media usage, and many victims themselves, played a prominent role in the proceedings.
- The families cried, laughed, and hissed in reaction to the CEOs' testimonies, underscoring the gravity of their concerns and demands for accountability.
The apologies
- During the hearing, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally apologized to the families present in the room, acknowledging the pain and suffering they had endured due to the negative effects of social media platforms on young people. He said:
"I'm sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered and this is why we invest so much and we are going to continue doing industry wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer."
- Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) urged Zuckerberg to "compensate" the families whose children have been impacted by his platforms.
- Snap CEO Evan Spiegel also apologized after being prompted by Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Cali.). Spiegel said:
"I'm so sorry that we have not been able to prevent these tragedies."
Outrage over tech practices
- Several senators expressed their outrage over the practices of major tech companies failing to protect young users. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) confronted Zuckerberg on internal Meta figures estimating the lifetime value of a teen user at $270. Blackburn invited a group of youth advocates to stand, revealing t-shirts with the slogan "I am worth more than $270." Blackburn said to Zuckerberg:
"Children are not your priority. Children are your product."
- Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said to the Meta CEO:
"You're in the foothills of creepy. You track people who aren't even Facebook users. I just wonder if our technology is greater than our humanity in the interest of this funnel."
TikTok's connection to China
- Lawmakers grilled TikTok CEO Shou Chew on the company's association with China through its parent company, ByteDance. Chew was asked how much access and influence the platform gives the Chinese government.
- Chew told Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) that it was "a coincidence" that he was appointed CEO of the platform a day after the Chinese Communist Party China Internet investment fund received a seat on the ByteDance subsidiary board.
Are you concerned about the risk social media poses to children and teens?
-Jamie Epstein
(Photo credit: Tech Policy Press)
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Social media poses many risks that need more control like allowing pornography, election interference and misinformation which effect everyone as well as children.
When it comes to children though, the single largest cause of death is guns. As for bullying, parents need to be more engaged as bullying doesn't happen just online but in person. My niece was bullied so her mother my sister had to get very involved with the school and other parents to stop it. It's not just the responsibility of social media though the apps need to provide tools that allow parents to control access, and block and report to law enforcement bullies and predators.
"The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) — sweeping legislation that aims, in part, to limit the spread of disinformation — is due to come into effect for social-media platforms on 17 February. Included in that act are provisions for giving vetted researchers access to data from social-media platforms to study systemic risks posed by social media in Europe."
"In 2020 and 2021, firearms contributed to the deaths of more children ages 1-17 years in the U.S. than any other type of injury or illness. The child firearm mortality rate has doubled in the U.S. from a recent low of 1.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2013 to 3.7 in 2021."
"The number of children and teens killed by gunfire in the United States increased 50% between 2019 and 2021, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the latest annual mortality statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)."
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/06/gun-deaths-among-us-kids-rose-50-percent-in-two-years/
https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/child-and-teen-firearm-mortality-in-the-u-s-and-peer-countries/
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00274-7
Social media and mobile technology has stolen the childhood of our young children!
We must restore net neutrality, bring back the fairness doctrine, and combat online misinformation, especially from the RepublicaNazis and the Kremlin. Kids teasing kids until they kill themselves has always happened, but it happens less in countries where "woke," community, and compassion aren't frowned upon.
Unfettered social media is extremely dangerous!
So 95% of Causes readers are concerned about the effect of social media on youth. I bet a similar number of us are concerned about its effect on adults regarding political issues, policy, etc. Disinformation is the new Pandemic....
I am very concerned about the risk social media poses to children and teens. I am also very concerned with the effects it has on adults as well!
All should be shut down. Is their really a NEED for these? NO
I am absolutely concerned. HOWEVER, I believe this should be the parents' job, NOT the government's!
We either operate completely under nanny state laws, or we make our own big person/big pants decisions.
I am afraid of the corrupt minds that we are raising but I point the blame on parents as well as Meta, Tic Toc etc... Parents have got to stop using hand held devices as baby sitters.
The social media companies have caused a mental health crisis and which the reason. Why suicides are up
you dont need ai to disinform ... all you need are maga bozos with an evil bent to create and propagate fake news - a crime against humanity! they need to be held accountable with punishing penalties!
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/07/media/new-york-city-vigilante-group-fox-news?cid=ios_app
An NYC vigilante group tackled what they claimed was a shoplifting ‘migrant’ live on Fox News. They were wrong.
It's about time they stop robocalls and spoofing on any media! I don't care what the form of communication it is! Whether it internet, phone lines or cellphone. Lies are lies, and scams are scams no matter what country, company, group or individual they are! Need to send a message loud message!
Is Tucker Carlson a CIA or FBI spy going to Russia or a assassin?
Some scool districts have add social media studies to the curriculum especially to teach about misinformation. I do think this is a good idea but this should not be the only step.
There is no doubt social media companies, ai and data manipulaters need to be reined in
but the sheer ignorance stupidity rudeness and racism exhibited by congress was stunning!
shame on congress !
Trump suggest that he look like Elvis?
I would vote for Liz Cheney or/and Adam Kinzinger for president and vice president over any republican! They have at least have a spine!
What is interesting is I new that before he was ever voted in to office, he would be the worst president ever! I did vote for him then, the second time or will I vote for a third time! The looser, lies about everything. You can't fact check him fast enough.
Not JUST children, it appears that the way social media companies run now is actively encouraging mental illness and social disfunction! I do not believe it was on purpose at first, they simply followed the ideas that made more money without understanding what they were doing. We, and they, know better now and they either need to act responably or we must END them!
Yes I am concerned and have been for years. All this was a dog and pony show by our congress. They got to show their constituents they can beat up on CEOs of media companies with talk. But they can't and will not pass a Bill to control children's safety on their internet companies. So, it is my opinion it is up to us parents and grandparents and caretakers to oversee what kids are doing on the internet. Do they really need a cellphone with internet capability? I am aware it is some kids only computer access. But we pay enough in taxes each student should have computer access at school where it is controlled. I am also well aware kids need a cellphone to keep in contact with parents for activities. We just can not put faith in Uncle to pass laws to go beyond to protect our young ones. It has to be our responsibility.