Mike Kennedy, UT
Linked statement
“Social media harms young people's mental health. A recent settlement with Meta is a good step, but it only affects one company. Congress needs to pass my bill to set safety rules for all platforms. It would let families sue social media companies in federal court if they fail to protect users.”
“Mr. Speaker, last week Meta reached a $12.2 billion settlement and agreed to implement new safety guardrails in youth protections. We have all witnessed the harms caused by an unchecked social media algorithm: anxiety and depression, lost sleep, and even a lost childhood. An entire generation of young people are struggling under the weight of a technology engineered to capture their attention and hold it for as long as possible. I thank Utah Attorney General Derek Brown for helping to lead us in this fight. This is a landmark win, but its reach is limited. It is one company. It does not cover the next platform. It does not cover the next algorithm. Most importantly, it does not guarantee protection for the next child. Congress needs to act to implement lasting changes. Congress has a responsibility to set one clear standard that applies to every platform before the harm happens. That is what my Algorithm Accountability Act does. It strips section 230 immunity from platforms that violate a clear duty of care to their users, and it gives families, not just State attorneys general, the ability to hold these companies accountable in Federal court. It is time for Congress to act.”
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Speech on a bill
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Mr. Speaker, last week Meta reached a $12.2 billion settlement and agreed to implement new safety guardrails in youth protections. We have all witnessed the harms caused by an unchecked social media algorithm: anxiety and depression, lost sleep, and even a lost childhood. An entire generation of young people are struggling under the weight of a technology engineered to capture their attention and hold it for as long as possible. I thank Utah Attorney General Derek Brown for helping to lead us in this fight. This is a landmark win, but its reach is limited. It is one company. It does not cover the next platform. It does not cover the next algorithm. Most importantly, it does not guarantee protection for the next child. Congress needs to act to implement lasting changes. Congress has a responsibility to set one clear standard that applies to every platform before the harm happens. That is what my Algorithm Accountability Act does. It strips section 230 immunity from platforms that violate a clear duty of care to their users, and it gives families, not just State attorneys general, the ability to hold these companies accountable in Federal court. It is time for Congress to act.