WASHINGTON, DC – In advance of the Senate HELP Committee’s hearing on the youth mental health crisis, the Tech Oversight Project spotlighted a recent poll from ParentsTogether and Reset showing that the American people want to hold social media companies accountable for harming children’s mental health.
Recently, United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy published a report showing that social media platforms are causing a “profound risk of harm” to children and teen mental health. The full Surgeon General report states, “There are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”
Key Results:
The poll, conducted by Hart Research, demonstrates the tools currently offered by social media platforms to parents are perceived as insufficient and government needs to step in to hold giant tech corporations accountable:
- An overwhelming majority of voters (84%) believe that social media companies, the federal government (71%), and state governments (67%) should do more to ensure the safety of children and teens online.
- Three-quarters of voters across party lines agree that government regulations are necessary to hold technology companies accountable due to the complexities and ineffectiveness of the tools provided.
These results highlight the urgent need for action by President Biden and Congress:
- The poll shows that two-thirds of voters (67%) and nearly three-quarters of parents (73%) consider it crucial for the government to address the impact of social media on young people.
- Large majorities across party lines, including Democrats (69%), independents (62%), and Republicans (67%), support this call for action.
- An overwhelming majority (78% of voters and 82% of parents) state that they would be more likely to support candidates who prioritize legislation to protect children and teens online, with strong support from Democrats (83%), Republicans (81%), and independents (66%).
There’s near-unanimous support for Congress to require technology and social media companies to take steps to protect children and teens, including safety protections mirroring those outlined by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
- Over 90% of voters and parents favor limiting the amount of personal data collected, requiring platforms to enhance protection measures, providing parents with better monitoring tools, and holding companies accountable when they fail to fulfill these requirements.