HARRISBURG, Pa. – After listening to comments made in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, It is fair to say that both lawmakers and law enforcement officials believe that the big social media companies are not doing nearly enough to keep inappropriate material out of the hands of children.
Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, claiming the social media giant built an app that promotes infinite scrolling and decays the mental wellness of kids.
“This includes profanity, drinking, drug use, individuals in sexually suggestive situations, activities a 13, 14, and 15 year old should not be exposed to at such a young age,” said Attorney General Dave Sunday who laid out the lawsuit Tuesday in Harrisburg.
The lawsuit seeks to establish effective barriers and safeguards for children ages 13-to-15.
“I’m standing here today to say that enough is enough and my office is taking action with this lawsuit. This is not healthy behavior for children.”
On its legal page, TikTok says it has adopted a range of measures to protect users aged 13-to-17 from harmful content.
It says it is committed to protecting against “potentially challenging viewing experiences.”
In New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherill signed three new laws today, all aimed at protecting kids online.
One law requires on-line providers to design their products while considering the safety and well-being of children.
Another includes a half-million dollars for New Jersey to establish a Social Media Research Center.
“This center will conduct independent research on the impacts and addictive nature of social media platforms. As Tech evolves, so will this center,” said Sherill.
The Sherill Administration is launching a request for proposals today to establish the Center, with the goal of beginning its work this fall.