Today's Article

“Making young people feel the very ways that we as parents and as a society don't want them to feel is built into the business model.”

The proposed bill also requires 9parental consent for users aged 13 to 17 and bans tech platforms from using teens’ 10personal information to 11target them with content or 12advertising.

“Social media companies have a13 duty to help keep kids safe and parents informed or face serious consequences.”

Lawmakers say the legislation is in line with guidance from 14the US Surgeon General.

“The 15skewed and often 16distorted environment of social media often does a 17disservice to many of those children.”

Senator Richard Blumenthal is working on 18a separate bill  to address the problem and says he has concerns about this version. Tech 19accountability 20advocates agree the bill is focused on the wrong issue.

“This bill doesn't actually put any responsibility onto the tech companies. Instead, it's putting more responsibility onto parents and young people to kind of21 self-police.”

Nicole Gill with the 22nonprofit Accountable Tech argues law should 23incentivize tech companies to 24redesign their platforms to protect mental health and privacy.

“We have an opportunity right now to rethink the way that these platforms work for young people…we should take it.”