Protecting Kids Online: Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube

Children and teens face immense peer pressure to be on apps such as Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. While social media can provide entertainment and educational opportunities, these apps have also been misused to harm kids and promote destructive acts, such as vandalism in schools, deadly viral challenges, bullying, eating disorders, manipulative influencer marketing, and grooming. This hearing will examine how tech companies treat young audiences, including how algorithms and product design choices can amplify harms, addiction, and intrusions into privacy. The hearing will also explore needed improvements to our laws to protect children and teenagers online. 

WITNESSES: 

• Jennifer Stout, Vice President of Global Public Policy, Snap Inc.
• Michael Beckerman, Vice President and Head of Public Policy, Americas, TikTok
• Leslie Miller, Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google