"No one should go through what your families have suffered": Criticism of insufficient measures to protect minors on social media has repeatedly made headlines in recent years. In the wake of this, Meta and other technology giants have announced their intention to do more against such dangers.
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Therefore, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, Discord, and Snap were questioned by US Senators about the dangers to children and teenagers on online services.
Corporation CEOs Accused of Not Adequately Addressing Risks Faced by Children on Online Platforms, Such as Those from Sexual Predators or Suicides. During a hearing before the US Senate, Republican Senator Josh Hawley pressed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to apologize for the impact of social media on families and their children.
Zuckerberg took his words to heart and apologized sincerely: "I am sorry for what you all have gone through. Nobody should have to go through what your families have suffered. That's why we are investing so much and will continue to undertake industry-wide efforts to ensure that no one has to go through what your families had to endure."
Last week, Meta announced its intention to enhance the protection of minors in its online networks. The company, which includes Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been under criticism for years because pedophilic users are able to exploit its online networks and messaging services to distribute child pornography.
More than 40 US states have already sued the company for insufficient child protection. The EU Commission has also launched an investigation into the safety measures of Meta and other digital corporations.
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee invited corporate executives to a hearing on Wednesday titled "Internet Giants and the Crisis of Online Child Sexual Exploitation." Victims who have suffered through the use of these services were also present during the questioning.
Republican Senators Josh Hawley and Lindsey Graham sharply criticized Zuckerberg, accusing him of having blood on his hands and that his product costs human lives. However, in his opening statement, Zuckerberg emphasized that they are working hard to provide parents and teenagers with support and control mechanisms to reduce potential harm.
The safety of young people has been a challenge since the beginning of the internet, as criminals constantly develop new strategies.
The CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, also announced to invest more than two billion dollars (approximately 1.8 billion euros) in "trust and safety". The online service X, formerly known as Twitter, also announced the opening of its own office to combat content related to the sexual exploitation of children and other violations of platform rules.
"Former CEO Linda Yaccarino emphasized that she believes freedom of expression and safety can and must coexist. It remains to be seen whether these measures will suffice to reduce the dangers to children in online services."
