Memphis Standard

Ahead of the Senate Judiciary Hearing with Big Tech CEOs, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal, authors of the Kids Online Safety Act, are advocating for congressional action to ensure a safe online environment for children. The Senators highlight tragic cases of young individuals who have suffered harm or lost their lives due to online bullying, harassment, and dangerous challenges. They emphasize the need for regulation as Big Tech companies have failed to govern themselves effectively.

The Senators reference the testimony of Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar, who revealed that Meta executives, including Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri, were aware of the harm faced by millions of teenagers on their platforms but chose not to take action. One parent described the situation as "a firehose of harmful content being sprayed at our kids." Additionally, internal documents from Meta Platforms, uncovered in a lawsuit, exposed how the company's algorithms intentionally connected minors with potential predators.

During the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Zuckerberg and other CEOs from Snap, TikTok, X, and Discord will be questioned about their platforms' role in exploiting children online. However, the Senators express skepticism about the companies' intentions, noting that they have made empty promises in the past and rushed to announce safety features before congressional hearings. They argue that Big Tech has proven incapable of self-regulation and advocate for Congress to intervene.

The Senators have been working on the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act for the past three years, aiming to create a safe online environment for children by holding online platforms accountable for promoting harmful content. Under the proposed legislation, tech companies catering to young users would be required to bear the responsibility for promoting suicide, bullying, eating disorders, substance abuse, and sexual exploitation. The bill also empowers young people and parents by providing options to protect privacy, disable addictive features, and opt out of personalized recommendations.

Support for the Kids Online Safety Act is bipartisan, with a majority of Democrats, Republicans, and independents in favor of it. The bill has garnered endorsements from numerous organizations and nearly half of the U.S. Senate. The Senators highlight the urgent need for change, as parents have become discouraged by the lack of action from tech companies. Despite reporting harmful content, Mason Bogard's mother, whose son tragically died attempting the viral "Choking Challenge," has received automated messages stating that the content does not violate community guidelines.

The Senators argue that Big Tech companies prioritize their business models over the well-being of underage users, exploiting their data for profit. Meta, for example, calculated a lifetime profit of $270 for each teenage user who remains on their apps. However, the Senators stress that children's safety is invaluable and call for reform of these companies' practices. A significant majority of Americans, 87 percent, believe that both the president and Congress must take action.

While the Judiciary Committee will demand answers from the tech CEOs during the hearing, the Senators assert that the most crucial response must come from Congress through enforceable action. They urge swift passage of the Kids Online Safety Act to ensure lasting change in the practices of Big Tech companies.