What are TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube Doing to Protect Children Online?
Massively popular social media networks – TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube are trying to convince skeptical US politicians that they are built to protect children against the risks present on social media. Facing a barrage of accusations and follow up questions, representatives from these networks committed to sharing internal research information on the impact of their products on kids.
Richard Blumenthal in a series of tweets said that:
These apps drive kids down algorithmic rabbit holes that lead to dangerous places, prey upon their insecurities & encourage more destructive hate, eating disorders & bullying.
Twitter
He also added that:
While I’m slightly encouraged by there being some openness regarding regulation & commitments to allow independent experts access to these platforms, that is a tepid response to a problem that has reached its boiling point. We need stronger rules to protect children online, meaningful transparency, & real accountability. I want a market where the competition is to protect children, not to exploit them. Not a race to the bottom, but to the top—with enforceable rules of the road.
Twitter
Read more about it here.
Facebook’s Potential Harm Spills Over
Close on the heels of Facebook whistleblower revealing that Facebook knew Instagram users were being led to anorexia-related content, these social media networks are under the scanner. While Facebook representatives have testified over 25 times in the past 4 years and Twitter execs have testified over 15 times, it was the first time for TikTok and Snap (the parent company of Snapchat). The hearing convened by Sen. Richard Blumenthal in the presence of the Senate Commerce Committee’s consumer protection panel dived deep into the details on kids’ data protection online, how the features on these apps affect teenagers’ experiences and what are the steps taken by the networks to combat bullying and related issues that impact children and teenagers.
Various studies have shown that the limited capacity for self-regulation and susceptibility to peer pressure together put children and adolescents at risk while they begin to navigate these social media networks. Most of the risks associated with social media usage at this age have long-lasting effects and lead to them viewing inappropriate content and influences of advertising. It is unclear exactly what data these companies have agreed to disclose and how they are combating this issue as yet.
