During a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, concerns were raised about the safety measures Big Tech companies have (or have not) implemented to protect children online. Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, among others, criticized CEOs from Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord for not adequately addressing risks such as exposure to harmful content and child exploitation on their platforms. An instance where Instagram (owned by Meta) failed to remove content potentially showing child sex abuse was particularly spotlighted, illustrating the lax mechanisms currently in place. This situation sparked a strong reaction from lawmakers demanding immediate action from technology companies to prioritize children’s well-being over profits.
Do you believe Big Tech companies are doing enough to protect children online?