Social media executives face the US Senate over child safety on their platforms
On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, X, Snap, Discord and TikTok were called to a US Senate hearing where they were grilled by senators about child safety.
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The backstory: Social media platforms have been under scrutiny for years over growing accusations that they’re responsible for not protecting children on their platforms. This includes Instagram and Facebook under the umbrella of Meta, X (formerly known as Twitter) and ByteDance’s TikTok. Some of these accusations include knowingly allowing underage users on their platforms, not protecting children from predators and not preventing the spread of child sexual abuse material online. Many people have also been concerned about the effect social media has on young people’s mental health.
The US has been under a lot of pressure to take action on these issues. But on the other hand, tech and digital rights groups have lobbied against many proposals brought to the table to regulate social media platforms.
More recently: In 2021, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg rejected requests from his top leadership to add more staff to oversee child safety and well-being, according to documents and emails released by the US Congress. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing in February last year about this, which brought about new laws like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) – which was recently backed by Snap, the parent company of Snapchat.
The development: On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, X, Snap, Discord and TikTok were called to a US Senate hearing where they were grilled by senators about child safety online for about four hours.
The hearing opened with a video of victims of online child sex exploitation sharing their stories, and Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin gave some examples of how these platforms have been harmful to children. He also admitted that Congress has failed to regulate these social media companies over the years, taking some of the responsibility.
Many of the CEOs underscored what their companies had done to protect children. X CEO Linda Yaccarino pointed out that the platform is not particularly popular with minors, and most of the users are adults.
Zuckerberg was in the hot seat for more time than the other CEOs. After a heated exchange with a senator, he turned to the audience, including some who were parents of victims or victims themselves, to apologize. “I am sorry for everything that you have all gone through,” Zuckerberg said. “It’s terrible. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered.”
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel also apologized to families whose kids died after buying drugs on Snapchat.
Some of the CEOs announced plans, such as Zuckerberg wanting to work with parents and lawyers to make his platforms a safer space, and TikTok CEO Shou Chew pledging US$2 billion to protect 170 million US users. But what other measures might come out of this hearing are still up in the air.
Key comments:
“Discord has been used to groom, abduct and abuse children. Meta’s Instagram helped connect and promote a network of pedophiles. Snapchat’s disappearing messages have been coopted by criminals who financially sextort young victims,” said Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin at the hearing.
“As a mother, this is personal, and I share the sense of urgency,” said X CEO Linda Yaccarino. “It is time for a federal standard to criminalize the sharing of non-consensual intimate material.”
“These companies must be reined in, or the worst is yet to come,” said US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
“They use our apps to feel more connected, informed and entertained, as well as to express themselves, create things, and explore their interests. Overall, teens tell us this is a positive part of their lives,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
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