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In an eerily familiar pattern to Big Tobacco’s targeting of young children despite the known harm of their products, Big Tech is engaging in similar tactics with their own product line. It’s time for society to wake up and take action!
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently issued a warning about the detrimental effects of social media on children’s mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the negative impact of social media platforms, has intensified feelings of isolation and depression among young users. Moreover, the horrifying truth is that these platforms are exposing children to sexual exploitation and depravity.
This alarming situation calls for a transformative response, similar to the one that followed the warning about smoking’s health risks. Just as Big Tobacco was required to fund a massive education campaign, it is imperative for Big Tech to undertake a similar initiative to address the harms caused to children.
The negative impact of Big Tech on society will persist and have long-lasting consequences if we fail to address the harm inflicted upon children. Unregulated social media companies prioritize generating marketing dollars through algorithms that drive traffic to their sites, without regard for the collateral damage suffered by our children. Government regulation is urgently needed.
The first step is repealing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which inadvertently granted legal immunity to Big Tech. Originally intended as a “Good Samaritan Defense” to prevent children from accessing pornographic content, this provision has been abused by profit-driven technology companies. Repealing Section 230 would eliminate the loophole that allows Big Tech to evade accountability and grant them sweeping immunity.
Back in 2013, a group of attorneys general called for an amendment to Section 230, allowing states to prosecute websites hosting unlawful content. Unfortunately, their suggestion went unheard.
We can effectively repeal Section 230 with a simple sentence: “Section 509 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is hereby repealed.” Furthermore, the Biden administration must acknowledge the significant harm inflicted on our children in the digital world, heed the Surgeon General’s warning, and ensure that Attorney General Merrick Garland prioritizes the aggressive prosecution of federal laws that criminalize sexual predation, obscene pornography, and online exploitation and abuse of children.
It is the responsibility of Congress to redirect the course and enact bipartisan legislation to rein in Big Tech’s harmful practices. The reintroduction of the bipartisan Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies (EARN IT) Act is a positive step. If passed, this law will remove immunity for Big Tech companies that knowingly enable the distribution of child sexual abuse material on their platforms. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer must call for a floor vote on EARN IT to protect innocent victims and give state attorneys general the ability to seek legal action against platforms engaging in the distribution of harmful content.
Several other bipartisan bills, such as the Kids Online Safety Act and The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, have been reintroduced in the Senate. These bills aim to implement stronger safety measures on social media platforms and establish greater online privacy protections for children and minors. Congress must give serious consideration to repealing Section 230, passing the mentioned legislation, establishing a regulatory framework, and mandating that Big Tech funds a multibillion-dollar education campaign like the one required of Big Tobacco.
In the meantime, parents must continue to be the first line of defense in protecting their children online. Free resources are available at internetsafety101.org.
It’s clear that urgent action is required. Actress Kate Winslet recently pleaded on British Television’s Academy Awards for harmful content to be criminalized, emphasizing the need to prioritize children’s mental health. The Surgeon General has issued a warning, actresses are speaking out, and parents are desperate for help. The voices of children themselves must be heard in Congress, the Oval Office, and Big Tech boardrooms. These are nonpartisan issues that warrant strong bipartisan support. How many more warnings will it take for action to be taken?
Donna Rice Hughes, CEO and President of Enough Is Enough®, has been at the forefront of the fight against internet-enabled exploitation of children and families since 1994. Her opinions are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of her organization. Enough Is Enough® is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that does not endorse or oppose candidates for office. For more information, visit www.enough.org and watch the Internet Safety 101″ TV series.
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