Amy Neville and Kristin Bride, two mothers who lost their teenage sons due to social media-related harms, are now advocating for stronger social media safeguards and legislation to protect children online. Their sons, Alexander Neville and Carson Bride, died in 2020, with Alexander being sold a pill by a drug dealer on Snapchat that killed him, and Carson dying by suicide after severe cyberbullying.
Global Restrictions on Social Media for Kids
Countries like Australia, the U.K., Turkey, and Indonesia have passed bans on kids under 16 or 15 from using platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. In contrast, the U.S. has been slow to implement such restrictions, with federal legislation moving at a glacial pace.
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which took effect in 2000, requires kid-oriented apps and websites to get parents’ consent before collecting personal information of children under 13. However, advocates say more needs to be done to protect children from online harms.
Landmark Jury Verdicts and the Push for Regulation
A pair of landmark jury verdicts this year has shown a way forward for holding tech companies accountable for the harms caused by their products. The verdicts have galvanized proponents for kids’ online safety, with lawmakers in the House unveiling a bipartisan deal called the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act.
However, critics argue that the bill has been stripped of its most important provision, the ‘duty of care,’ which requires companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said that without a duty of care, Big Tech companies will maintain the status quo of putting profit before the safety of children.
Advocates like Neville and Bride remain optimistic, employing a three-prong approach of legislation, litigation, and education to push for stronger social media safeguards. They say that the tide is turning, with the court of public opinion on their side, and that they will not give up until meaningful change is achieved.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
