Meta is failing kids. Lawmakers are failing them, too

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The creators of social media platforms have relentlessly pursued child customers and have ignored the technology's harmful effects. Or so argue tech whistleblowers and at least some members of Congress.

In late November, court filings were unsealed that include salacious details, such as Meta requiring more than 17 human trafficking attempts before flagging an account, something verified by multiple company sources. The plaintiffs are more than 1,800 parents, school districts, teachers, states and attorneys general. They argue that "the parent companies behind Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube "relentlessly pursued a strategy of growth at all costs, recklessly ignoring the impact of their products on children's mental and physical health."

Tell me with a straight face that this isn't a problem. That's what a Meta spokesperson is saying: "We strongly disagree with these allegations, which rely on cherry-picked quotes and misinformed opinions in an attempt to present a deliberately misleading picture."

But this latest lawsuit is far from a one-off, and evidence is piling up about the negative impact on kids.

Most parents think there are obvious reforms that would keep kids safe. But only a handful of state legislatures have forced social media companies to implement age limits or tools mandating parental consent. (Another handful have passed laws that have been paused due to court challenges by the tech industry.)

Just this week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on potential legislative solutions. Every witness, and several House members, pointed out the harms today's online environment inflicts on kids. There's bipartisan legislation in Congress that involves giving parents more control and enacting age limits and data protection for minors. But what will finally push these bills toward passage? That remains to be seen.

Maybe Congress is hesitating because members would rather have these technologies than not. The lines between Big Tech and Big Politics have blurred. President Barack Obama was the first to wield social media to his electoral benefit. Since then, President Donald Trump started his own social media company and X owner Elon Musk did a stint in the White House. With half of Americans now getting at least some of their political news on social media, politicians' interests are aligned with the platforms', not users'.

Moreover, the social media parent companies supply much of America's economic growth with their investments in AI. Without them, our economy might well be much weaker, and no politician wants that on their watch.

And just in case that's not enough, the tech companies have enmeshed themselves in Washington with massive lobbying efforts. It's as if they saw the backlash coming. Last year, they spent a record $86 million in Washington lobbying; a 25% increase from 2023. Meta spends more than the rest.

We can't only blame the tech companies and the politicians, of course. Plenty of us want what YouTube, Meta and TikTok offer. Parents want a peaceful dinnertime. Enter the screen. Teachers want a moment to catch up on district emails. Enter the screen. Babysitters want to text on their phones and finish their homework. Enter the screen. And the kids themselves want to zone out after a busy day of school and soccer practice.

Social media has a lot to offer; maybe that's blinded us to its costs. But those costs are too obvious to continue to ignore, especially for kids. Pew Research Center found that nearly 100% of American teens have a smartphone, and roughly half say they are online "constantly." Anxiety and depression rates have soared as the ability to concentrate has plummeted, along with literacy rates.

There's access to violent and explicit content and grooming by predatory adults. According to an EPPC study, nearly 1 in 3 teen girls have been approached by adults asking for nudes on social media.

Social media apps are not inert tools. They know - and shape - our desires. Tech founders have turned our kids into their customers, and then looked the other way when those child-customers became the product.

There's no re-do for our kids. They won't get a second childhood. And although there are steps parents can take to prevent future damage - no phones in the bedroom, screen-time limits, family dinners without phones - it's time for outside limits, too.

I'm saying this from the center-right. I'm no fan of the progressive nanny state. I am glad to live in a country where free speech is protected. In general, I believe that people should have the freedom to live the lives that they want with minimal government intervention, except to support and protect the most vulnerable. But that vulnerable group certainly includes children.

We don't need more studies or court filings to understand social media's harms to our children. What we do need is the political will to do something about it.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Abby McCloskey is a columnist, podcast host, and consultant. She directed domestic policy on two presidential campaigns and was director of economic policy at the American Enterprise Institute.

Previously:
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• The gender wars are heating up --- on the right
• Too many kids can't read. Blame a lack of spelling tests
• Dems, curb your enthusiasm
• Vouchers aren't enough to fix US schools