Bipartisan Coalition of Attorneys General Calls for Enhanced Protection for Youth on Social Media

Strategic Insights -

A coalition of bipartisan attorneys general, led by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, has expressed strong support for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security hearings addressing the safety and protection of kids and teens using social media. The attorneys general are deeply troubled by the impacts of social media on youth, citing research from Facebook's own internal studies showing that social media inflicts harm on a significant number of kids, including increased mental distress, bullying, suicide, and other self-harm.

Key Takeaways:

  • A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, led by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, has expressed support for the U.S. Senate Committee's hearings addressing the safety and protection of kids and teens using social media.
  • The attorneys general are deeply troubled by the impacts of social media on youth, citing research from Facebook's own internal studies showing that social media inflicts harm on a significant number of kids.
  • The research from Facebook's internal studies has shown that social media negatively affects young people's mental health, body image, and self-esteem.
  • The attorneys general have criticized social media companies for failing to protect children from these serious harms, prioritizing profits over youth safety and mental health.
  • A joint letter from the attorneys general urges the Senate to uncover critical information about the business practices of social media companies and their impact on youth.
  • The attorneys general believe that social media companies have a responsibility to protect children from the harms of social media and should abandon their plans to launch products specifically designed for young users.
  • The attorneys general have requested that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg abandon the plans to launch a version of Instagram for Kids, citing concerns over the potential harm to children under the age of 13.

Statistics:

  • A bipartisan coalition of 44 attorneys general wrote a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg earlier this year, urging the company to abandon its plans to launch a version of Instagram for Kids.
  • The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security is holding hearings on the protection and safety of kids and teens using social media.
  • Facebook's internal studies have shown that social media inflicts harm on a significant number of kids, including increased mental distress, bullying, suicide, and other self-harm.
  • The attorneys general estimate that the current and future well-being of our nation's youth is at stake, due to the potential harm caused by social media companies prioritizing profits over youth safety and mental health.

Sources:

  • Office of the Connecticut Attorney General
  • Letter from bipartisan coalition of attorneys general to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg
  • U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security hearings