CEOs of major social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, and X, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on child exploitation concerns and the impact of social media on young people. The hearing addressed issues such as child safety, online predators, addictive features, self-harm, eating disorders, and unrealistic beauty standards on social media platforms.
Meta, in particular, faced scrutiny over allegations that it knowingly designed features on Instagram and Facebook to addict children and failed to protect them from online predators. The company has been sued by multiple states, leading to increased focus on its child safety measures. While Meta has implemented some changes, critics argue that the actions fall short of meaningful solutions.
TikTok, Twitter (now X), Snap, and Discord also participated in the hearing. The discussion emphasized the need for stronger measures to protect children on social media platforms. Concerns about the impact of social media on mental health, privacy, and the addictive nature of certain features were highlighted during the testimony.
The absence of Google’s YouTube from the list of companies called to testify was noted, despite YouTube being a widely used platform among teens. The hearing addressed the broader responsibility of social media companies in ensuring child safety, online privacy, and addressing harmful content on their platforms.
Advocates and lawmakers expressed the need for independent regulation to hold social media companies accountable for the safety and well-being of young users. While companies have introduced some changes, the hearing underscored the ongoing challenges and the call for stronger measures to protect children in the digital space.
