Social media platforms YouTube and TikTok failed to appear at the Live Real Life Symposium earlier in September, earning the ire of Texas officials and organizations.
The Context
In late August, 51 attorneys general were able to get social media giant Meta to issue an $18 billion settlement and force the implementation of safety measures for young users on Facebook and Instagram, including a two-hour daily time limit, a strict 12 a.m.–6 a.m. night mode curfew, age assurance measures, notifications disabled by default during school hours, likes and reactions hidden by default to limit social comparison, and options for parents and teens to disable personalized feeds and auto-play.
Then, at the beginning of September, the Department of Health and Human Services' Live Real Life Symposium was scheduled to feature representatives from YouTube and TikTok to discuss mitigating the harms of social media on children, but despite their commitment, they failed to appear.
"Not only have YouTube and TikTok failed to step up and join Meta in offering meaningful new changes to keep kids safe on their platforms, but YouTube and TikTok both chose to back out of an event with HHS where they may have been asked to answer for the harm they've caused millions of children and families," American Principles Project President Terry Schilling told the Daily Caller, adding, "Their silence, including pulling a disappearing act on the Trump Administration, speaks volumes."
Texas Officials and Organizations Weigh In
State Representative Ellen Troxclair (R-19) wrote on social media, "Don't mess with Texas kids. Ken Paxton made that clear today — forcing Meta to redesign Instagram for teens across the state. Screen time limits, no beauty filters, and no school-day notifications. Time for TikTok and YouTube to do their part."
Texas Youth Summit Founder Christian Collins wrote, "Meta just struck a bipartisan deal with 52 AGs to lock in real teen safety defaults on Instagram and Facebook: 2-hour daily limit, night block, school-hour muting, hidden likes, private accounts by default, and stronger parental controls."
"They're calling on YouTube and TikTok to adopt the same standard. Good," Collins continued, adding, "One platform restricting teens just pushes them to the next. Parents deserve actual tools. Time for the whole industry to stop the excuses."
