[ad_1]
Facebook it is no longer the only social media company targeted by Congress to potentially harm America’s children.
Executives from Snapchat and TikTok made their first appearance before Congress on Tuesday, entering a new phase in lawmakers’ threatened crackdown on the technology.
you are. Richard BlumenthalThe Connecticut Democrat argued that youth insecurity, hatred, and anxiety are exacerbated by tech platforms trying to connect kids to their products. he He told representatives from Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube that they could not escape the anger of legislators. Facebook.
“I understand from your statement that your defense is ‘we are not’. Facebook, we are different and different from each other.’ being different Facebook It is not a defense,” he said. Blumenthal He said at a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee’s consumer protection and data security subcommittee. “That bar is in the gutter. It’s not a defense to say you’re different.”
Technology platform managers, Snap Inc. He sought to distance himself from the social media industry in general, with Vice President Jennifer Stout informing lawmakers that her platform describes itself as a “camera company.”
In her statement, Ms Stout insisted that her company was different from other tech platforms, sparking anger among lawmakers.
“Snapchat was built as an antidote to social media,” he said.
However, lawmakers painted a different picture with their own experiences on various platforms. Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee said his employees created a Snapchat account that looked like a young teenager and were soon bombarded with inappropriate content, including “invitation to play a sexually explicit video game online” and articles about “pornstars”, among other things. . .
Ms Stout said she “didn’t know” about the content shown to her fake account, but stressed that the content promoted on Snapchat was not harmful or illegal.
It wasn’t immediately clear which advertisers were responsible for the content Mr. Lee’s team saw, and whether other digital activities were delivering targeted content.
TikTok has similarly faced accusations that it allows teens to engage in dangerous behavior. Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn said legislators allow social media platforms to promote and glorify content that is dangerous for teens.
“Nine-year-olds have died while having viral difficulties on TikTok, and we have seen young girls engage in inappropriate sexual relations with predators on Snapchat,” he said. “You are the parent, how can you allow that?”
Similar to Snapchat, TikTok has sought to distance itself from other leading social media platforms. Facebook focuses on people’s relationships with others.
“TikTok is not a social network based on followers or social graph,” said Michael Beckerman, TikTok vice president. “It’s not an app where people check to see what their friends are doing. You watch TikTok. You create on TikTok.”
Lawmakers also expressed concerns about who is monitoring Americans’ data on TikTok, especially children’s information. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz repeatedly pressed Mr. Beckerman for information on whether TikTok’s fine writing was giving the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ data.
Mr. Beckerman accused Mr. Cruz of asking “questions” and Mr. Cruz said that Mr. Beckerman was acting like someone who was “hiding something”.
As lawmakers put pressure on tech platform executives, no consensus has yet emerged on a single legislative fix. Mr. BlumenthalParents shouldn’t be the only ones who are responsible for their children’s online experience, leading the subcommittee.
“All this research, facts, and revelations sent a message to America’s parents: You can’t trust Big Tech with your kids. “America’s parents cannot trust their children with these practices,” he said. he said. “And Big Tech told parents, ‘You have to be the gatekeepers. You have to be the copilots of social media. You must be the enforcement police.’ Because parents shouldn’t have to carry this burden alone.”
Mr. Blumenthal said he demanded “stronger rules” to protect children and “true transparency, real accountability” from tech platforms.
[ad_2]
Source link