Many tech CEOs are likely to use Wednesday's hearing to tout tools and policies to protect children and give parents more control over their children's online experiences.
However, parents and online safety advocacy groups say many of the tools released by social media platforms don't go far enough, largely leaving the task of protecting teens in the hands of parents. and, in some cases, from the young users themselves, and that technological platforms can no longer let the economy regulate itself.
“What the committee needs to do is put pressure on these executives to commit to making major changes, especially to disconnect their advertising and marketing systems from services that are known to attract and target young people,” said Jeff Chester, director executive at the nonprofit online consumer protection organization. Center for Digital Democracy.
