Memphis Standard

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) addressed Big Tech CEOs, criticizing them for prioritizing profit over the safety and well-being of children. She highlighted the alarming issue of online harms, such as bullying, child trafficking, and the opioid crisis.

Senator Blackburn specifically called out China-owned TikTok, expressing her concerns about the company's practices and the risk it poses to children. She stated, "There are a lot of people in Tennessee that are very concerned about the way TikTok is basically building dossiers on our kids...And also that information is held in China, in Beijing." She emphasized the negative impact on children's mental health and highlighted a major music label's decision to pull their content from the platform.

Next, Senator Blackburn turned her attention to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, questioning his valuation of young users. She stated, "Mr. Zuckerberg, one of the things that really concerned me is that you referred to your young users in terms of their lifetime value of it being roughly $270 per teenager." She expressed her disbelief and stated, "We've got some standing up in those t-shirts now, and some of the children from our state...would you say that life is only worth $270? What could possibly lead you...I mean, I listen to that...And how could you possibly even have that thought?"

Senator Blackburn also accused Big Tech companies of failing to cooperate with Congress in addressing issues like sex trafficking. She directly addressed Zuckerberg, saying, "It appears that you're trying to be the premier sex trafficking site...the problem is, we've been working on this stuff for a decade. You have an army of lawyers and lobbyists that have fought us on this every step of the way...So are you going to stop funding these groups? Are you going to stop lobbying against this and come to the table and work with us?...The door is open. We've got all these bills...Each and every one of you needs to come to the table, and you need to work with us. Kids are dying."

In conclusion, Senator Blackburn's passionate address to Big Tech CEOs highlighted the urgent need for prioritizing child safety over profit. She called out TikTok for its data practices and Facebook for undervaluing the lives of young users. She also criticized the failure of Big Tech companies to collaborate with Congress in tackling issues like sex trafficking. Senator Blackburn's strong words serve as a reminder that the well-being of children should always be a top priority.