House Republicans demand internal research from Snap, TikTok, YouTube
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Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers R-Wash
Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images
House Republicans want to know SnapTikTok is available Google’s YouTubeTo conduct internal research regarding how their products influence teens’ mental well-being, please send Monday letters.
The lettersCathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican from Washington), is the ranking member of House Energy and Commerce Committee. She arrives one day before each executive will testify to Senate Commerce subcommittee. The letters were also signed by Robert Latta (R-Ohio), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Morgan Griffith (R-Va.).
The reports are based on documents leaked from FacebookThis was shown to be the company’s own research found negative impacts on the mental health of its young usersFacebook’s more positive results to the public were still reflected in this report.
It is clear that legislators are not only interested in safeguarding children online, as evidenced by Monday’s questions. Representatives of Congress now want to learn what platforms and their impact on children and teens have to say. The lawmakers have a number of options that might limit the platform’s use by teens older than ten and force companies to offer additional protections to young users.
Snap, TikTok, YouTube and YouTube are asked for information about the research they have done on how their platforms affect the mental health and well-being of different age groups. The letters also request information on outside research and communications from the company about these impacts.
Additionally, the lawmakers asked TikTok, the parent company of ByteDance, whether it was ever given instructions by China to remove content from its platform, or if the Chinese government preemptively removed content in fear of receiving “objections.” The lawmakers also wanted to know if U.S. officials sought user data from TikTok and if TikTok had responded.
TikTok maintained previously that U.S.-based user data was not available to the Chinese government as TikTok’s servers are not located in China.
McMorris Rodgers led similar lettersFacebook, Google und TwitterFollowing a March hearing with the CEOs of these companies.
Teen mental health online emerged as a key area of focus for many lawmakersOn both sides even before the leaked documents became publicThey are. Their concerns were only exacerbated after hearing from The Wall Street JournalThese results suggest that Facebook was more aware of how their products affect teens than Congress, even though they present a positive picture.
Although only a small number of people reported serious mental health problems, like self-reported suicide thoughts, it is possible to trace these negative effects to Facebook. However, Facebook’s large scale allows for significant user numbers.
More reports on Facebook’s internal research have continued to trickle outA consortium of news organisations began publishing stories on Friday based upon documents that Frances Haugen, an ex-Facebook employee, had provided. Haugen also requested whistleblower status by sharing the documents with Congress and Securities and Exchange Commission. The Journal first published portions of these documents.
WATCH: Facebook ‘addictive’ and particularly destructive for kids, say senators: CNBC After Hours
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