Lawmakers Question Snap, TikTok, and YouTube on Kids' Online Safety

Congressional Scrutiny Shifts to TikTok and Snap

Having repeatedly called upon established tech firms and their seasoned leadership for testimony, the United States Congress is now focusing its attention on two relatively newer, yet increasingly influential, players in the tech landscape: TikTok and Snap.

A Senate Subcommittee dedicated to Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security will convene on Tuesday to question policy representatives from TikTok, Snap, and YouTube regarding the impact of their platforms on young, vulnerable users. This hearing follows recent testimony from Frances Haugen, a former Facebook whistleblower, who presented similar concerns to the committee in early October after publicly revealing her identity.

Hearing Details and Participants

The proceedings are scheduled to begin at 7:00 AM PT and will feature testimony from Jennifer Stout, Snap’s Vice President of Global Public Policy; Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s Vice President and Head of Public Policy; and Leslie Miller, who oversees government affairs and public policy at YouTube. A live stream of the hearing is available below.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), chairing the subcommittee, will guide the discussion, centering on the potentially harmful effects of social media on children and adolescents. He stated that reports detailing the negative impacts of Instagram on young users raise broader concerns about the approach of large technology companies towards children.

Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), the subcommittee’s ranking Republican, has indicated a particular interest in addressing privacy issues related to TikTok’s operations.

Expected Topics of Discussion

The hearing is anticipated to cover a range of critical issues, including:

• Eating disorders and their potential exacerbation through social media.
• Instances of harassment and bullying occurring on these platforms.
• Concerns surrounding online safety for young users.
• The protection of user data privacy.

Lawmakers also intend to explore potential legislative solutions aimed at safeguarding children and teenagers online, although the extent to which the hearing will yield concrete proposals remains uncertain. The KIDS Act, designed to establish new online protections for individuals under 16, is among the bills under consideration and was recently reintroduced by Senators Blumenthal and Markey.

Bipartisan Concerns and Algorithmic Transparency

While numerous societal challenges implicate social media platforms, the well-being of young people has emerged as a rare point of consensus between Republicans and Democrats. This issue provides a shared area of criticism with considerable political common ground.

Both parties acknowledge the need for some form of regulation of major tech companies, albeit with differing priorities. Conservatives often emphasize concerns about content moderation and perceived censorship, while Democrats are generally more focused on the spread of harmful content, such as extremism and misinformation.

The hearing will likely delve into the role of algorithms in amplifying potentially damaging content. Due to the proprietary nature of these algorithms, congressional hearings offer a valuable opportunity to gain insight into how social media companies personalize content delivery to their users.

However, past hearings have often been hampered by uninformed questioning from lawmakers and carefully crafted responses from tech executives, resulting in limited substantive revelations.

Impact of Facebook Revelations and Proactive Safety Measures

Recent disclosures concerning Facebook and Instagram are expected to significantly influence the proceedings, as all three companies scheduled to testify have been closely monitoring the public reaction to leaked Facebook documents and subsequent reporting.

In response to initial reports regarding Instagram’s awareness of risks to teen users, TikTok implemented new safety features, including a well-being guide, improved search interventions, and opt-in prompts for sensitive search queries. Snap also unveiled a suite of family-focused safety tools designed to provide parents with greater insight into their children’s platform activity.

Given that TikTok and Snap attract a disproportionately young user base compared to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, the implementation of robust safety tools is particularly crucial. Prior to the hearing, YouTube announced adjustments to its monetization policies for children’s content and highlighted its existing safety measures for young viewers.