YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok to be grilled amid concerns on their platforms harming kids, teens

Washington, Oct 26 (FN Agency) US lawmakers will on Tuesday grill YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok executives about mounting concerns that their platforms can harm children and teenagers. The New York Times quoted a subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee as saying that the hearing would examine “how tech companies treat young audiences, including how algorithms and product design choices can amplify harms, addiction and intrusions into privacy.” It will begin at 10 am. While TikTok is likely to be questioned on how its algorithm moves its users towards contents on sex, drugs and violence, YouTube might be asked about its content policies, including its last month decision on banning misinformation about vaccines.

“The bombshell reports about Facebook and Instagram — their toxic impacts on young users and lack of truth or transparency — raise serious concerns about Big Tech’s approach toward kids across the board,” Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, said in a statement. Two weeks ago, Frances Haugen, the former Facebook product manager who leaked thousands of pages of internal documents, told the committee how the company knew that its products made teenagers feel worse about themselves, The NYT reported. The companies will be sending its executives with political experience for the hearing.