Blumenthal & Blackburn to Hold Hearing with Instagram CEO on Social Media's Impact on Children

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, will convene a hearing on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 2:30 PM titled “Protecting Kids Online: Instagram and Reforms for Young Users.” Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri will testify at the hearing.

“After bombshell reports about Instagram’s toxic impacts, we want to hear straight from the company’s leadership why it uses powerful algorithms that push poisonous content to children driving them down rabbit holes to dark places, and what it will do to make its platform safer,” said Blumenthal. “I appreciate Mr. Mosseri voluntarily coming to the Subcommittee and hope that he will support specific legislative reforms and solutions, particularly in its immensely potent algorithms. My conversations with parents have deeply moved me to fight for such reforms and demand answers that the whole nation is seeking. I look forward to discussing with Instagram urgently necessary and meaningful laws to protect children online and hold Big Tech accountable—updates to COPPA, the KIDS Act, and more.”

“Instagram’s repeated failures to protect children’s privacy have already been exposed before the U.S. Senate,” said Blackburn. “Now, it is time for action. I look forward to discussing tangible solutions to improve safety and data security for our children and grandchildren.” 

Next Wednesday’s hearing will be the fifth in a series of bipartisan hearings spearheaded by Blumenthal and Blackburn to inform legislation and prompt action by social media companies to address dangers faced by children online.

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