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Youth

Bipartisan Coalition of Attorneys General Supports Hearings on Social Media Safety for Kids

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a bipartisan coalition of 52 attorneys general in supporting the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security's hearings on social media safety for kids and teens. The hearings follow Facebook's announcement to pause the development of Instagram Kids, a platform aimed at children. The coalition expressed concerns over the impacts of social media on youth, citing internal studies from Facebook showing increased mental distress, bullying, suicide, and other self-harm among kids.

Key Takeaways:

  • 52 attorneys general, including Michigan's Dana Nessel, supported the hearings on social media safety for kids and teens.
  • The hearings are focused on addressing the protection and safety of minors on social media, with a specific focus on Facebook's Instagram Kids platform.
  • Internal studies from Facebook revealed that social media can inflict harm on kids, including increased mental distress, bullying, suicide, and other self-harm.
  • The coalition stated that social media companies design their algorithms to psychologically manipulate young users into addiction to their cell phone screens.
  • Attorney General Nessel urged Michiganders to take note of the findings from the hearings and use them to inform their access to the internet and phones at a young age.
  • Facebook's pause on Instagram Kids development came after Attorney General Nessel addressed the issue following the first hearing.
  • A second hearing on the topic is taking place on the same morning as the initial release, and can be streamed online.

Statistics:

  • 52 attorneys general are part of the bipartisan coalition supporting the hearings.
  • Facebook's internal studies found that social media can inflict harm on kids, including:

+ Increased mental distress

+ Bullying

+ Suicide

+ Other self-harm

  • The coalition's letter highlighted the manipulative nature of social media algorithms designed to keep young users engaged with their screens.

Sources:

  • The letter from the bipartisan coalition of attorneys general
  • A statement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office
  • A Facebook press release announcing the pause on Instagram Kids development
  • Online information on the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security

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