Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • PM Modi in Manipur
  • Charlie Kirk killer
  • Sushila Karki
  • IND vs PAK
  • India-US ties
  • New human organ
  • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Movie Review
fp-logo
Vantage | Why we can't depend on Big Tech to make Internet safe of children
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • Vantage | Why we can't depend on Big Tech to make Internet safe of children

Vantage | Why we can't depend on Big Tech to make Internet safe of children

The Vantage Take • February 2, 2024, 16:33:57 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

As tech giants continue to prioritise financial gains over user safety, the responsibility falls on governments to regulate and protect vulnerable users

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
Vantage | Why we can't depend on Big Tech to make Internet safe of children

In a recent and highly charged US Senate hearing, the spotlight was cast on major tech companies as they faced intense scrutiny over their platforms’ involvement in facilitating harmful activities among teenagers. The discussion expanded beyond the incidents of teen drug use to encompass issues such as online bullying, harassment, sexual exploitation, self-harm and predatory marketing – collectively referred to as the seven plagues of social media.

Executives from Meta, Snap, TikTok, X and Discord found themselves on the receiving end of probing questions, enduring nearly four hours of relentless interrogation about their platforms’ perceived failure to adequately protect children. The exchanges with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel drew particular attention. Senatorial interrogation Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, confronted Mark Zuckerberg with alarming statistics, revealing that 37 per cent of teenage girls between 13 and 15 were exposed to unwanted nudity on Instagram. Despite these revelations, Zuckerberg maintained a defensive stance, refraining from disclosing significant actions taken against those responsible. In a pivotal moment, Zuckerberg eventually issued an apology, stating, “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered.” While the apology appeared sincere, doubts lingered regarding its authenticity and the lack of concrete actions taken to address the issues at hand. Ineffectual responses The hearing laid bare the defensive responses of tech executives, offering tepid answers to queries about child safety measures on their platforms. The proposed Kids Online Safety Act, designed to compel social media sites to prevent harm to minors, failed to garner unanimous support, with three out of the five CEOs withholding their pledge of backing. Adding to the drama, three out of the five CEOs were served government-issued subpoenas, underscoring their reluctance to attend the hearing voluntarily. This reluctance highlighted the tech giants’ hesitance to confront the pressing issue of child safety on their platforms. Social media as a public health hazard New York City Mayor Eric Adams heightened the gravity of the situation by classifying social media as a “public health hazard” and an “environmental toxin.” Disturbing statistics revealed a surge in child sex images online with over 36 million pornographic images of children circulating in 2023. While social media companies like Meta and Snapchat reap substantial profits from user engagement, the hearing exposed the inherent conflict of interest in self-regulation. With the majority of their revenue derived from advertising, these companies have a vested interest in keeping users on their platforms, potentially compromising user safety. As tech giants continue to prioritise financial gains over user safety, the responsibility falls on governments to regulate and protect vulnerable users. Public regulation becomes crucial in acknowledging the negative impacts of social media and ensuring that companies prioritize user safety over profits. While the apologies voiced during the Senate hearing may have been a step in the right direction, they remain insufficient to address the deep-rooted systemic problems afflicting the social media landscape. Urgent action is imperative, calling for the establishment of stringent laws, decisive measures, and a comprehensive framework dedicated to safeguarding children online. The responsibility now squarely rests on the shoulders of governments to not only recognise the deficiencies of tech giants but to implement and enforce policies that prioritise user safety over profit. It is only through stringent regulation that we can hope to rectify the pervasive issues plaguing social media platforms, ensuring a safer and more secure digital environment for the younger generation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tags
Mark Zuckerberg Instagram Republican Evan Spiegel Eric Adams josh hawley US senate hearing Kids Online Safety Act
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Impact Shorts

How army remains Pakistan’s biggest business house

How army remains Pakistan’s biggest business house

More Impact Shorts

Top Stories

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV