Lawmakers Push for Online Child Safety Rules - Snap, TikTok, YouTube
Social Media Platforms Face Congressional Scrutiny Over Teen Safety
The repercussions stemming from disclosures concerning adolescent mental wellbeing on Instagram are ongoing – and extend beyond Facebook's purview. Representatives from YouTube, Snap, and TikTok appeared before Congress on Tuesday to address issues surrounding children and online safety.
This marked the inaugural appearance of TikTok and Snap executives in a significant technology-focused hearing. The session, conducted by the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, largely maintained focus on the intended subject matter.
Political Diversions and Key Questions
Republican members of the committee frequently attempted to redirect the conversation, particularly when questioning the TikTok executive, towards concerns regarding data privacy and the company’s connections to the Chinese government.
Despite these diversions, valuable moments arose when the policy leaders were directly asked to provide yes/no responses to specific policy proposals currently under consideration by Congress.
Testimony was delivered by Jennifer Stout, VP of Global Public Policy at Snap; Michael Beckerman, VP and Head of Public Policy at TikTok; and Leslie Miller, who oversees government affairs and public policy for YouTube.
Calls for Comprehensive Privacy Legislation
Both YouTube and TikTok advocated for the establishment of comprehensive U.S. legislation concerning online privacy. Beckerman characterized a national legal framework for privacy laws as “long overdue.”
All three companies expressed agreement regarding parental rights, specifically the ability to erase all online data associated with their children or teenagers. Stout noted that Snapchat is designed with disappearing data as a core feature.
However, Snapchat’s privacy policy acknowledges the retention of location data for varying durations, dependent on its precision and the services utilized.
Senator Markey's Push for Enhanced Protections
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), who has unexpectedly gained popularity on TikTok, championed what he terms a “privacy bill of rights for the 21st century” during the hearing.
Markey highlighted proposed amendments to the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), aiming to strengthen protections for young social media users.
These legislative changes would prohibit tech companies from collecting data from users aged 13 to 15 without explicit consent, introduce an “eraser button” for easy deletion of minors’ personal data, and generally restrict the types of information social media platforms can collect.
Company Responses to COPPA Proposals
Markey inquired whether each company would support the COPPA amendments. Beckerman, representing TikTok, stated the company’s support for the proposal, while emphasizing the equal, if not greater, importance of a standardized method for verifying user age.
Snap did not offer a commitment to the COPPA proposal, prompting criticism from Markey, who accused Stout of employing “the old game” of avoiding specific commitments.
YouTube, previously penalized with a $170 million FTC fine for COPPA violations, did not provide a definitive commitment but referenced “constructive” discussions with Markey’s staff.
The KIDS Act and Engagement-Juicing Features
During the hearing, Markey and Blumenthal also brought attention to their recent reintroduction of the KIDS (Kids Internet Design and Safety) Act.
This bill seeks to safeguard online users under the age of 16 from features designed to maximize engagement, such as autoplay, push notifications, and like buttons.
Furthermore, it would prohibit influencer marketing directed at children under 16 and require platforms to establish a reporting system for instances of harmful content served to young users.
