Legislators Unite to Protect Children From Big Tech Exploitation
By Movieguide® Staff
After Facebook whistleblower Francine Haugen released internal documents and testified that the company was aware of Instagram’s harm to teenage users, lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle agreed that Big Tech should be held accountable.
During a recent court hearing, Sen. Richard Blumenthal read the text of a parent who claimed that his 15-year-old daughter’s use of Instagram negatively affected her mental health.
“I am in tears right now,” the text read. “Suddenly she started hating her body, her body dysmorphia, now in anorexia and was in deep, deep trouble before we found treatment. I fear she’ll never be the same. I am brokenhearted.”
Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee echoed Blumenthal’s stance, noting that “as a mother and a grandmother, this is an issue that is of particular concern to me.”
Despite political polarization between Democrats (Blumenthal) and Republicans (Blackburn) legislators, the two sides have found that they can agree on the need to protect children against the current business models of Big Tech companies.
In another court hearing called the “Protecting Kids Online: Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube,” Blackburn and Blumenthal called out an additional list of companies for their lack of concern for the potential harm their platforms pose to young users.
Movieguide® previously reported:
While big tech and social media giants insist that their platforms are safe for children, lawmakers are taking a closer look.
TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat feared comparisons to Facebook—which came under fire after whistleblower Francine Haugen leaked internal documents—and defended their online platforms before the Senate subcommittee at Capitol Hill.
To protect children, Senators applied legal pressure to top media sites where the internet’s biggest online community of young users congregate.
“You cannot trust these kids with big tech,” Senator Richard Blumenthal said in his opening statement.
CBN reported: “Senators demanded specifics on areas such as data collection, algorithms putting ads and sexual content in front of kids, plus content ranging from glorifying eating disorders to self-harm to violence.”
CEO of Enough is Enough Donna Rice Hughes noted that even media discerning children are at risk of being manipulated by algorithms or shown unsolicited, explicit material.
“First of all, where kids play, predators prey,” Hughes said. “Understand that even your good, smart and careful kids are not safe on these platforms. Some of these companies have taken some steps, but it’s not enough.”
“We have had almost three decades of big tech not having any kind of accountability or regulation,” Hughes said.
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar said that Haugen’s testimony is the push legislators needed to start taking action to hold Big Tech accountable.
“It feels like we have finally reached a tipping point,” Klobuchar told USA TODAY. “The road ahead isn’t easy – Amazon and Facebook are the top business lobbyists in the U.S. – but the good news is that there is bipartisan momentum to get something done, and the public is on our side.”
“Facebook whistleblower Francis Haugen brought a lot of new energy and sense of urgency to doing something, and so I think the conditions are right,” Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, said. “I’m hoping they are for bipartisan action, so I’m always encouraged to see both sides working together on that issue, it’s an important one.”
Since 2019, Blackburn and Blumenthal have noted that apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube sexualize content targeted to children.
“The sexualization of children through YouTube’s recommendation engine represents the development of a dangerous new kind of illicit content meant to avoid law enforcement detection,” they wrote in a 2019 speech. “Action is overdue; YouTube must … end this disturbing risk to children and society.”
Read Also: Snapchat Lacks Accountability, Leads the Charge in Indoctrinating Children
Read Also: New Report Discovers TikTok Exposes Minors to Explicit Content and Drug Usage
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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