John,

Did you see the overwhelming bipartisan support for President Biden’s call to protect kids’ safety online during his State of the Union speech last week?

It was a breath of fresh air. There’s been inaction for far too long on this issue in Congress, and there seemed to be a spark of energy to make something happen.

Now, on the heels of Biden’s call to action, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing yesterday that examined the harms that children face in the online world, and what Congress can do about it. This momentum on reforming social media isn’t just critical for the safety of kids, but for the future of our democracy.

Without major reform to the current online information ecosystem, social media companies will continue to divide us, further polarize our politics, and undermine the health and safety of future generations. The time for change is now.

Watch the hearing.

Excitingly, half of those who testified are members of our Council for Responsible Social Media. Kristin Bride, a mother who lost her son to cyberbullying, is a social media reform advocate; Emma Lembke is a Gen Z social media advocate and the founder of LOG OFF, a youth movement that seeks to tackle the challenges of social media and its impact on younger generations; and Josh Golin is the executive director of Fairplay, an organization committed to helping children thrive in an increasingly digital world.

These three testified about the dangerous impacts social media is having on our youth, and what Congress can do to protect the safety, privacy, and well-being of children online.

While it’s critical that this issue be addressed, it’s important to note that it’s part of something bigger. There’s a broader effort to reform Big Tech and hold these companies accountable — and our Council for Responsible Social Media is at the center of that effort.

This issue doesn’t just stop at children. The negative effects of social media impact the health of our democracy and we’re committed to making real change happen.

Check out the recording of the hearing to see what the members of our council had to say.

We’re glad you’re with us,

Alix Fraser
Council for Responsible Social Media Director