U.S. Senator Katie Britt Continues Calls for Federal Action to Protect Children from the Harms of Social Media

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law to discuss how landmark social media verdicts demand Congressional action to protect children from online dangers. Senator Britt spoke with witnesses Rachel Lanier, Managing Attorney of the Lanier Law Firm, Joann Bogard, survivor parent and member of Parents for Safe Online Spaces, Bridgette Norring, survivor parent and founder of the Devin J. Norring Foundation, and Professor Mary Graw Leary, Professor of Law at Catholic University Columbus School of Law.

Prior to questioning the witnesses, Senator Britt addressed the survivor parents: "To the parents here- thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for being so brave and courageous. … We used to lock our doors at night and believed we had kept our children safe. And now we do that, but yet the enemy is in the palm of our kids hands. And so, thank you for telling your story. Mrs. Bogard … I appreciate you continuing to tell your story to all of the parents out there … you are what is pushing us. Your story, honoring your children-that's what's making a difference here. … [Y]ou are the fuel and the momentum that's actually going to get something done."

In her first line of questioning, Senator Britt addressed Rachel Lanier, stating, "Thank you on behalf of all of us, as a mom of two teenagers. You got right in the fight and got real results. I think we have a lot of parents out there, though, that don't actually know the harms of social media. … I think every parent needs to know that [social media platforms] are actually designed to addict our children. … [I]f you were to have a 30 second PSA to all parents in America, what would you want them to know about these social media platforms?"

Ms. Lanier agreed, responding, "I would say that what you just said hit the nail on the head, that the access that these companies have to our children is frightening. They are able to access them in the 'safety' of a child's home and addict them to the platforms. And what's so scary is that the companies will tell parents and Americans and tell all of you one thing, and their platforms are doing something completely different …"

Senator Britt doubled down, saying, "And what you uncovered, that the earlier that [social media companies] know, the earlier they get our children addicted, than the more likely [children] are to be a lifetime user and the more likely they are to stay on there, and the longer they stay on there … the more money [social media companies] make … So, they are putting people behind their profits. And in this case, these people are our most vulnerable and our greatest asset, that's our children. It's disgusting."

In her second line of questioning, Senator addressed Professor Leary: "I heard you say earlier, there can't just be a remedy, there has to be protection and prevention. Talk to me about what the pitfalls are in that line of thinking, and what you also think needs to be done."

Professor Leary discussed the need for legislative change to hold Big Tech accountable and protect children: "Yes, that is a dangerous thought to think that after … decades of attorneys, estates attorneys generals, trying to pierce that wall of Section 230, not being able to enforce their own state laws, not being able to hold a company liable for actually receiving child sexual abuse material. The list goes on. Creative and skilled attorneys like Mrs. Lanier and many of the folks, the Attorney General of New Mexico, the fact that they managed to get through once or twice and hopefully more, is not the … only solution … And the state court judge himself has expressed a concern. He said, 'I am not a legislator,' so that's a limit. And then the other limit is financial. $300 million is a lot of money to most people. It's not to a $400 billion company … Both these things, civil private rights of action and affirmative legislation together, are what creates prevention."

Senator Britt concluded: "Well, the time to act is now … And thank you again for telling your story."

You can view the Senator's full remarks here.

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