RuthieBarrett

An estimated 98% of Marian students are active on social media, but do students always understand the dangers that come with their participation on these platforms?

The United States Congress is trying to make sure social media platforms and citizens take all precautions to ensure the safety of children.  

On Jan. 31, social media’s top CEOs went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify on the exploitation of children on their respective platforms. 

According to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, the purpose of these hearings was to further show the work that Congress needs to do to make sure that the children of America are safe. 

The committee claims that “Social media companies have failed to police themselves at our kids’ expense.” 

Since 2022, Congress has taken serious steps to ensure social media platforms take precautions against child exploitation. 

“Kids should not be 
exposed to so much information
    at such a young age. Companies and 
       parents should try to limit the amount of 
              access young kids have to that information.” 

Ava DeSmet ’26

They have passed numerous bills including the STOP CSAM Act which “supports victims and increases accountability and transparency for online platforms,” and the REPORT Act which “combats the rise in online child sexual exploitation by establishing new measures to help strengthen reporting of those crimes to the CyberTipline,” said the Senate Committee.

The Jan. 31 hearing included Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, Jason Citron, the CEO of Discord, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta (Instagram and Facebook), Evan Spiegel from Snap (Snapchat) and Shou Zi Chew from TikTok.

The hearing lasted an intense four hours with scrutinizing questioning from senators, while the families of victims who had taken their lives because of social media watched. 

According to the New York Times Report, during Mark Zuckerberg’s questioning, Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri asked that Zuckerberg apologize to the families of victims that were seated behind him. 

As Zuckerberg turned around, the families held up pictures of their loved ones. 

He apologized by saying, “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered.”

Zuckerberg promised that Meta was taking serious steps to ensure that other people do not face the same fate. 

The CEO of Tik Tok, Shou Zi Chew, did not get away from the hearing unscathed either. 

Senators questioned him on his ethnicity and whether or not he had ties to the Chinese government. 

He repeatedly reminded the senators that he was from Singapore and not China and that he does not have any allegiance to China. 

According to the New York Times Report, the CEOs of Snap and X both agreed to support the Kids Online Safety Act which requires social media platforms to take “reasonable measures” to protect children from harm. 

However, the CEOs of Tik Tok, Meta and Discord did not agree to support this act because they believe it will conflict with the right of free speech. 

This hearing is just one of the steps Congress is taking to ensure children stay out of harm’s way as they navigate through social media.

Marian has also taken steps to help ensure students are not ignorant to the harms of social media and how to have healthy practices when using it. 

Every year, Marian brings in Smart Gen Society to give a presentation to students and faculty. Smart Gen Society is an organization that provides education programs to help prevent the negative effects of technology because of a lack of education and resources.

Students and adults are further encouraged to educate themselves on the risks of social media and make sure they are using it in a way that does not harm themselves or anyone else.