Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitation
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitation

Associated Press  

Suicide and eating disorders. “They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online,” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. From left; Discord CEO Jason Citron, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, X CEO Linda Yaccarino and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, are sworn in during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, to discuss child safety. “After years of working on this issue with you and others, I’ve come to conclude the following: Social media companies as they’re currently designed and operate are dangerous products,” Graham said. When Mark says ‘Our job is building the best tools we can,’ that is just not true,” said Arturo Béjar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently testified before Congress about child safety on Meta’s platforms.

Social Media Safety Children Media Social Parents Companies Child Child Safety Capitol Hill Washington Senate Republican Hearing Tiktok Mark Meta Hawley Zuckerberg Ceo Blumenthal Social Media Companies Radwan Senate Judiciary Committee Béjar  parents  child  media  tiktok  testify  meta  social  exploitation  zuckerberg  companies  hearing  senate  safety  children  heated  ceo

History of this topic

Dutch MP will propose banning children under 15 from using social media
1 week ago

Dutch MP will propose banning children under 15 from using social media

NL Times  

Dutch political party D66 is advocating for a minimum age of 15 for social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. “Tech giants are harming children’s health because social media is deliberately designed to be addictive,” said D66 parliamentarian Hanneke van der Werf, according to RTL." “The Netherlands doesn’t let cigarette manufacturers determine and enforce age restrictions,” Van der …

California bill would require mental health warnings on social media sites
1 week, 6 days ago

California bill would require mental health warnings on social media sites

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy California, home to some of …

California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites
2 weeks ago

California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember …

Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challenges
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challenges

Associated Press  

As school districts struggle to control the spread of cyberbullying, sexual abuse images and online exploitation among their students, Texas lawmakers could consider banning social media from minors, among other sweeping measures, in the upcoming legislative session. While they welcome any efforts to reduce harm to children, school officials and cybercrime investigators say more needs to be done to hold …

Australia's PM says he is 'ready to engage' with Musk on social media ban for teens amid backlash
Top News
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Australia's PM says he is 'ready to engage' with Musk on social media ban for teens amid backlash

Firstpost  

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the parliament’s Thursday passage of landmark legislation requiring social media firms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent young teens from having accounts Australia’s prime minister said Sunday he was ready to “engage” with billionaire X owner Elon Musk over his criticism of the government’s ban on under-16s joining social media. Anthony Albanese hailed the …

JUST SPAMMING | Can social media be kept out of the child's reach?
3 weeks, 2 days ago

JUST SPAMMING | Can social media be kept out of the child's reach?

Deccan Chronicle  

The latest news from down under is rather baffling. The Online Safety Amendment Act 2024 passed by the Australian Senate last week seeks to ban children below the age of 16 from using social media apps like TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, Snapchat, Instagram and X. Because in the Indian context, 70 per cent of the children access social media from their …

Founder of teenage-run 6 News channel criticises Anthony Albanese's social media ban for children under 16
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Founder of teenage-run 6 News channel criticises Anthony Albanese's social media ban for children under 16

Daily Mail  

The founder of an Australian news channel staffed exclusively by teenage journalists has responded to new laws which will ban children under the age of 16 from social media. Leo Puglisi, 17, has run the online news service 6 News since beginning his media career at age 11. 'As Australia's only national streaming news channel run almost entirely by teenagers …

'Serious concerns': Meta and other social media companies slam Australia's social media ban for teens
3 weeks, 3 days ago

'Serious concerns': Meta and other social media companies slam Australia's social media ban for teens

Firstpost  

Most tech giants have said they will comply with the ban as the government has imposed a fine of up to $50m if they fail to do so The Australian government’s ban on social media for teens has caused an uproar not only among users but also among tech companies including Meta that has accused the administration of passing the …

Australia lawmakers pass landmark social-media ban for under-16s
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Australia lawmakers pass landmark social-media ban for under-16s

Live Mint  

Australia is set to become the first country to ban social media use by under-16s after the country’s Senate overwhelmingly voted in favor of strict new legislation. “Social media is doing harm to our children and I’m calling time on it," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said when the bill was introduced to Parliament earlier this month. The legislation marks …

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s

CNN  

Brisbane, Australia CNN — Australia’s parliament has passed a world-first law banning social media for children under 16, putting tech companies on notice to tighten security before a cut-off date that’s yet to be set. Under the new law, tech companies must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-age users from accessing social media services or face fines of nearly 50 …

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s

CNN  

Brisbane, Australia CNN — Australia’s parliament has passed a world-first law banning social media for children under 16, putting tech companies on notice to tighten security before a cut-off date that’s yet to be set. Under the new law, tech companies must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-age users from accessing social media services or face fines of nearly 50 …

The Australian Senate debates the world’s first social media ban for children under 16
Top News
3 weeks, 5 days ago

The Australian Senate debates the world’s first social media ban for children under 16

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Senate was debating a ban on children younger than 16 years old from social media Thursday after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly supported the age restriction. “The core focus of this legislation is simple: It demands that social media companies take reasonable steps to identify and remove underage users from their platforms,” Kovacic told the …

Safety is ‘at the core’ of TikTok, European executive says
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Safety is ‘at the core’ of TikTok, European executive says

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The safety of TikTok users “is at the core of the platform”, one …

Social media age ban inquiry flooded with 15,000 submissions after Elon Musk weighs in
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Social media age ban inquiry flooded with 15,000 submissions after Elon Musk weighs in

ABC  

A rushed inquiry into the government's proposed laws to ban children and young teenagers from social media has been inundated with about 15,000 submissions, despite having only been open for 24 hours. Musk questions government's motive Under Labor's plans, children younger than 16 will be barred from using social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and X. "The government's deal …

Australian parliament debates social media ban for children under 16
1 month ago

Australian parliament debates social media ban for children under 16

Firstpost  

The world-first legislation would force social media firms to take steps to prevent those under 16 years of age from accessing platforms such as X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram Australian PM Anthony Albanese has endorsed banning children from registering social media accounts until they are 16. X/AlboMP Social media companies could be fined more than US$30 million if they fail …

Is a “digital duty of care” enough to protect young people from social media’s harms?
1 month ago

Is a “digital duty of care” enough to protect young people from social media’s harms?

ABC  

Since the start of November, the Australian government has made two significant announcements aimed at addressing the harms that social media platforms are causing to the mental health of adolescents: that it will legislate a minimum age of 16 for access to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X; that it will legislate a minimum age of 16 …

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg not liable in lawsuits over social media harming children
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg not liable in lawsuits over social media harming children

India TV News  

A federal judge recently stated that Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta platform is not personally liable in 25 lawsuits accusing his company of addicting children to social media. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California rejected the accusations on Thursday, that Zuckerberg directed Meta's effort to conceal from children the serious mental health risks of using Instagram …

Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover Set Off a Race to the Bottom
54 years, 11 months ago

Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover Set Off a Race to the Bottom

Wired  

In the final lead-up to the US presidential election, Elon Musk has thrown the full weight of his celebrity and his resources behind former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump. “In a race to the bottom, Elon Musk paved the way for a new, toxic tech basement,” says Nora Benavidez, senior counsel at the nonprofit Free Press. “Yet, as long …

Social media firms state their case
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Social media firms state their case

Politico  

Social media firms state their case TECH MAZE Florida AG Ashley Moody is defending a state law restricting kids' social media access in court. | AP Photo Tech giants sued Florida on Monday, attempting to overturn a state law requiring social media applications to restrict children’s access. The groups contend that the law, a top priority for outgoing Republican state …

TikTok has known about how the app can harm teens and preteens, new documents show
2 months, 1 week ago

TikTok has known about how the app can harm teens and preteens, new documents show

NPR  

TikTok has known about how the app can harm teens and preteens, new documents show AYESHA RASCOE, HOST: TikTok executives were acutely aware of the potential dangers the app could cause to teens but appeared unconcerned, even though the company's own internal research validated the fears child safety advocates have been raising for years. But in internal documents, TikTok admitted …

TikTok executives know about app’s effect on teens, lawsuit documents allege
2 months, 1 week ago

TikTok executives know about app’s effect on teens, lawsuit documents allege

NPR  

TikTok executives know about app’s effect on teens, lawsuit documents allege toggle caption Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty Images For the first time, internal TikTok communications have been made public that show a company unconcerned with the harms the app poses for American teenagers. “Unfortunately, this complaint cherry-picks misleading quotes and takes outdated documents out of context to misrepresent our commitment …

TikTok sued by multiple states for allegedly causing harm to children’s mental health
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok sued by multiple states for allegedly causing harm to children’s mental health

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta files lawsuit against TikTok for exploiting young users
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta files lawsuit against TikTok for exploiting young users

LA Times  

Rob Bonta joined several other attorneys general in filing lawsuits Tuesday against TikTok, alleging the popular social media app is exploiting young users, violating state consumer protection laws and misleading the public. Rob Bonta and several other state attorneys general filed a coordinated blitz of lawsuits Tuesday against TikTok, alleging the popular social media app is exploiting young users, violating …

TikTok sued by 14 attorneys general over alleged harm to children’s mental health
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok sued by 14 attorneys general over alleged harm to children’s mental health

CNN  

New York CNN — A bipartisan group of 14 attorneys general from across the country filed lawsuits on Tuesday against TikTok, alleging that the platform has “addicted” young people and harmed their mental health. “TikTok’s underlying business model focuses on maximizing young users’ time on the platform so the company can boost revenue from selling targeted ads,” the attorneys general …

D.C. and more than a dozen states sue TikTok
2 months, 2 weeks ago

D.C. and more than a dozen states sue TikTok

NPR  

D.C. and more than a dozen states sue TikTok NPR's Juana Summers talks with D.C. AG Brian Schwalb about the new lawsuit against TikTok alleging that the social media platform causes harm to kids and operates in an illegal virtual economy. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is in the studio with me to talk more about this new lawsuit against …

Ken Paxton sues TikTok for violating new Texas social media law
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Ken Paxton sues TikTok for violating new Texas social media law

Raw Story  

"Ken Paxton sues TikTok for violating new Texas social media law" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued TikTok on Thursday for sharing and selling minors’ personal information, violating a new state …

Social media platforms engaged in ‘vast surveillance’ and failed to protect young people, FTC finds
3 months ago

Social media platforms engaged in ‘vast surveillance’ and failed to protect young people, FTC finds

LA Times  

Social media apps and video streaming services are still facing scrutiny from U.S. regulators over youth safety and privacy concerns. Major social media platforms and video streaming services that gather a “staggering” amount of data from their users have failed to protect young people and safeguard online privacy, the Federal Trade Commission said Thursday. “These surveillance practices can endanger people’s …

Children and young teenagers could be banned from using social media, minister says
3 months, 1 week ago

Children and young teenagers could be banned from using social media, minister says

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Children in the …

Social media companies to face fines for allowing children under 14 on their platforms under proposed SA laws
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Social media companies to face fines for allowing children under 14 on their platforms under proposed SA laws

ABC  

Social media giants would be forced to ban children under the age of 14 from their platforms or face hefty penalties, under proposed laws in South Australia that could be replicated in other states. SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the proposal was fuelled by concerns social media was harming young people and affecting their mental health, leaving parents "almost powerless". …

Canada man sues social media giants YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, for being too addictive, causing negative body image
4 months, 1 week ago

Canada man sues social media giants YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, for being too addictive, causing negative body image

Hindustan Times  

A 24 year old man from Montreal, Canada, is launching a class-action lawsuit against social media companies like TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook for being “too addictive.” Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram apps are seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. The man started using social media in 2015, due to which, he claimed …

DOJ lawsuit: TikTok illegally collected personal data from children
4 months, 3 weeks ago

DOJ lawsuit: TikTok illegally collected personal data from children

Salon  

The Department of Justice announced a sweeping suit against TikTok on Friday, accusing the social media platform of collecting personal data from children in violation of federal law. “This action is necessary to prevent the defendants, who are repeat offenders and operate on a massive scale, from collecting and using young children’s private information without any parental consent or control,” …

Justice Department sues TikTok for allegedly violating child privacy laws
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Justice Department sues TikTok for allegedly violating child privacy laws

LA Times  

The legal pressure on TikTok just got more intense. The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday sued TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance for allegedly breaking child privacy laws, accusing the companies of collecting personal information on children under the age of 13 without their parents’ consent. “The Department is deeply concerned that TikTok has continued to collect and retain …

US DOJ files lawsuit against TikTok, ByteDance for failing on child privacy
4 months, 3 weeks ago

US DOJ files lawsuit against TikTok, ByteDance for failing on child privacy

Al Jazeera  

The US alleges that for years millions of American children under 13 have been using TikTok and the site ‘has been collecting and retaining’ their data. The United States Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against TikTok and parent company ByteDance for failing to protect children’s privacy on the social media app The government said on Friday TikTok violated …

Senate passes bill to protect kids online and make tech companies accountable for harmful content
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Senate passes bill to protect kids online and make tech companies accountable for harmful content

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation Tuesday that is designed to protect children from dangerous online content, pushing forward with what would be the first major effort by Congress in decades to hold tech companies more accountable for the harm that they cause. “It is past time to act.” The legislation is about allowing children, teens and parents “to …

Supreme Court Rules That US Government Can Continue Talking to Social Media Companies
54 years, 11 months ago

Supreme Court Rules That US Government Can Continue Talking to Social Media Companies

Wired  

Today, the Supreme Court ruled in a 6–3 decision that the plaintiffs who'd sued the US government for allegedly violating the First Amendment—by communicating with social media companies about misleading and harmful content on their platforms—did not present enough evidence to prove that they had standing to sue. Specifically, the case alleged that government agencies like the Centers for Disease …

Social media warning label sought by U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy, asks congress to act
6 months ago

Social media warning label sought by U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy, asks congress to act

The Hindu  

The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms, similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. In a Monday opinion piece in the The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. “It is time to require a …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

Associated Press  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

Surgeon general calls for social media warning labels and calls on Congress to act
6 months ago

Surgeon general calls for social media warning labels and calls on Congress to act

Associated Press  

The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms and their effects on young people’s lives, similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. “It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. A surgeon …

US surgeon general calls for warning labels on social media platforms
6 months, 1 week ago

US surgeon general calls for warning labels on social media platforms

Al Jazeera  

The United States surgeon general has called on Congress to require social media platforms to carry warning labels on their effects on young people’s lives, similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. “It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. …

The government puts warnings on tobacco and alcohol. Is social media next? : Consider This from NPR : NPR
6 months, 1 week ago

The government puts warnings on tobacco and alcohol. Is social media next? : Consider This from NPR : NPR

NPR  

'An unfair fight': The U.S. surgeon general declares war on social media Enlarge this image toggle caption doble-d/Getty doble-d/Getty Emma Lembke was 12 years old when many of her friends started using phones and social media. "Too much time on social media gets in the way of things that we know are good for kids, like getting a lot of …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

The Hindu  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

Associated Press  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

Meta, Google leading $1m lobbying efforts to oppose NY online safety for children bills
7 months ago

Meta, Google leading $1m lobbying efforts to oppose NY online safety for children bills

Op India  

Tech behemoths like Meta and Google have spent about $1.5 million combating strategies in the United States aimed at protecting children online. The SAFE Act would prohibit social media platforms from using recommendation algorithms on children, requiring chronological feeds for persons aged 18 and less unless a parental agreement is obtained. A Meta spokeswoman stated that the tech giant would …

What are the new social media algorithm rules as Ofcom cracks down?
7 months, 2 weeks ago

What are the new social media algorithm rules as Ofcom cracks down?

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Social media platforms …

Online regulator Ofcom publishes new rules for social media firms to limit harm for children
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Online regulator Ofcom publishes new rules for social media firms to limit harm for children

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Social media firms must stop pushing harmful content to children online with “aggressive” …

Editorial: Social media companies refuse to safeguard kids. It’s up to lawmakers now
8 months ago

Editorial: Social media companies refuse to safeguard kids. It’s up to lawmakers now

LA Times  

From state capitols to Washington, D.C., lawmakers are scrambling to come up with regulations that can protect kids from the potential harms of social media, since the platforms have been unwilling to adopt reasonable safeguards themselves. In just the last few months, Florida passed a law banning children under age 14 from having a social media account, Iowa legislators backed …

Younger children increasingly online and unsupervised, Ofcom says
8 months ago

Younger children increasingly online and unsupervised, Ofcom says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In its annual study of children’s relationship with the …

Quarter of children under seven own smartphones
8 months ago

Quarter of children under seven own smartphones

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In its annual study of children’s relationship with the media and online worlds, Ofcom said the number …

4 Canadian school boards sue Snapchat, TikTok and Meta for disrupting students' education
8 months, 3 weeks ago

4 Canadian school boards sue Snapchat, TikTok and Meta for disrupting students' education

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Opinion: There’s a clear way to regulate Facebook, TikTok and other social media
9 months ago

Opinion: There’s a clear way to regulate Facebook, TikTok and other social media

LA Times  

Powerful technology has perhaps never presented a bigger set of regulatory challenges for the U.S. government. Congress can create an independent authority responsible for establishing and enforcing baseline safety and privacy rules for social media companies. At minimum, companies would be banned from accepting payment from terrorist groups looking to verify social media accounts, as the Tech Transparency Project found …

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