Instagram recommends sexual videos to kids as young as 13: Report
Instagram is recommending sexual videos to kids as young as 13, according to a new Wall Street Journal study released Thursday, June 20. The Journal created new accounts and set the ages to 13 years old to see what kind of content would be recommended.
Researchers said right off the bat, the accounts were recommended “moderately racy” videos like women dancing sensually or showing off their bodies. The Journal reported it took as little as three minutes after the accounts were created to start getting sexual reels.
The study also found accounts that watched those videos and skipped over other reels started getting more explicit suggestions, including videos of women pantomiming sex acts or promising to send nude images.
In January, Instagram owner Meta said it was giving teens a more age-appropriate experience by restricting “sensitive content,” including sexually suggestive material.
For comparison, the Journal did the same test on TikTok and Snapchat. The report said neither recommended sexual videos to the accounts created as “teens.”
In fact, researchers even used those accounts to search age-inappropriate videos and follow accounts that produced them. They said the TikTok and Snapchat accounts still did not get age-inappropriate recommendations, even after that.
Lawmakers back surgeon general’s call for warning on social media platforms
Congress members are very supportive of Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s proposal to place a warning label on social media to inform minors and their parents about the platforms’ potential negative impacts on mental health. In Lawmakers back surgeon general’s call for warning on social media platforms New York Times op-ed Monday, June 17, Murthy said a surgeon general’s warning requires congressional approval and multiple lawmakers said they think Congress should look into it.
“It is urgent for Congress to act,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said. “The surgeon general is pulling together with the evidence which has become overwhelming that certain aspects of social media are damaging to our children. Our first responsibility should be to protect our children and it’s something we’re not doing right now.”
“It’s an intriguing idea,” Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said. “We know that far too many young people are exposed to far too many things on social media is troubling for this generation.”
In the op-ed, Murthy called the mental health crisis in young people an emergency and said social media is an important contributor.
The proposed warning label would be similar to those on cigarettes and tobacco, which have been effective. When Congress authorized the labels in 1965, approximately 42% of U.S. adults were daily smokers. That number decreased to 11.5% in 2021.
The warning label could be approved by itself or as an amendment to one of the many bills Congress is considering to make social media a more positive place for young people.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s Kids Online Safety Act has 69 co-sponsors evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. The bill requires platforms to give minors the ability to protect their personal data, make the strongest privacy settings default, and give kids the option to opt out of algorithmic recommendations.
Blumenthal said some of the requirements in his bill, like giving parents and educators a dedicated channel to report harmful behavior, align with Murthy’s proposal.
“I support these warnings because social media poses such a grave, imminent danger to kids with toxic content on bullying and eating disorders and much more,” Blumenthal said. “And this kind of alert, raising an alarm to parents, as well as top young people is absolutely the right thing to do.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., has another proposal that would prohibit companies from collecting data on kids 16 and younger without their consent in addition to creating a “delete” button for parents so they can erase data that has been collected from their child.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Cassidy said of the warning label.
There are no votes scheduled on major social media or Big Tech legislation. Parent groups wrote to Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in May demanding that he bring the Kids Online Safety Act up for a vote.
Surgeon general wants tobacco-style warning labels on social media
The U.S. Surgeon General called on Congress to require tobacco-style warnings on social media platforms. In an op-ed released Monday, June 17, in The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy reiterated his stance that the mental health crisis among young people is an “emergency.” Murthy reiterated that social media is one of the biggest reasons why.
Murthy said he wants to require warnings that include language alerting users to the potential mental health impacts of social media websites and apps.
Social media has become an important contributor to our #YouthMentalHealth crisis. We are in the middle of an emergency, and it’s essential that Congress act with speed and urgency. The health and well-being of our kids is at stake. Read more: https://t.co/AR0VOfcjoF 2/2
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) June 17, 2024
Last year, the Surgeon General’s Office issued an advisory about social media use and its potential mental health effect on teens. The office also called on social media companies to ensure platforms enforce minimum age requirements. Now, he wants to take that further by adding these labels, which require congressional approval.
“Legislation from Congress should shield young people from online harassment, abuse and exploitation and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content that too often appears in algorithm-driven feeds,” Murthy wrote. “The measures should prevent platforms from collecting sensitive data from children and should restrict the use of features like push notifications, autoplay and infinite scroll, which prey on developing brains and contribute to excessive use.”
Murthy said the proposed labels would “regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe.”
“To be clear, a warning label would not, on its own, make social media safe for young people,” Murthy added.
On Monday, June 17, Murthy noted the success of adding similar labels to tobacco products while appearing on NBC’s “Today.”
“Now, a warning label would help parents to understand these risks,” Murthy said. “Many parents don’t know that these risks exist. And we have data from tobacco warning labels that, in fact, that they can be helpful in changing awareness and changing behavior. Keep in mind, when Congress authorized these labels for tobacco more than half a century ago, or nearly half a century ago, the smoking rate in America was above 40% today it’s under 12%.”
Murthy also said social media companies should have to share all their data on health effects with independent scientists and the public and allow independent safety audits.
Native nations take on Big Tech in name of teen mental health
Two U.S. tribal nations are taking on Big Tech. The Spirit Lake Tribe in Los Angeles and Menominee Tribe in Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Google and YouTube. The plaintiffs claim that these platforms are preying on their youth, contributing to high suicide rates among Native American teens.
The tribes said that Big Tech purposefully hooks teens and keeps them glued to their screens with addictive design mechanisms. Advocates said that Native American teens are especially vulnerable to the negative health effects of these platforms. These habits, the tribes claim, led to an increase in teen suicide.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Native American teen youth have a markedly higher rate of suicide in their communities, up to four times the youth suicide rates as other demographics.
Spirit Lake’s chairperson said “endless scrolling” is “rewiring the brains of our teenagers.”
The plaintiffs argue that these social media platforms are dumping a massive burden on tribal communities, already dealing with scarce mental health care access and historical traumas.
The lawsuit aims to force platforms to change the design choices, particularly those which contribute to addictive behaviors in teens. The plaintiffs also want great accountability from social media companies to safeguard the mental well-being of Native American youth.
According to the Pew Research Center, virtually all U.S. teens use social media. Around one-sixth of teens report their social media use to be “almost constant.”
It’s not just tribes taking action, a growing number of U.S. school districts, states and cities are pursuing lawsuits against Big Tech. In Congress, a bipartisan group of senators is pushing the Kids Online Safety Act, requiring platform design changes to prevent harm to children’s mental health. The tech industry opposes the bill and the American Civil Liberties Union has raised censorship concerns.
Google responded to the lawsuit by the two tribes, stating that the allegations “are simply not true.”
Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bill restricting social media for kids
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday that sets age limits for social media use in the state. Under the new law, children under 14 are prohibited from creating social media accounts, and those aged 14 and 15 will need parental consent to join platforms.
“Ultimately, [we’re] trying to help parents navigate this very difficult terrain that we have now with raising kids, and so I appreciate the work that’s been put in,” DeSantis said.
The law requires social media companies to delete accounts belonging to users under 14. If they fail to comply, they can be sued, and children may receive up to $10,000 in damages.
Companies could also face fines of $50,000 for each violation.
According to the law, individuals have a 90-day window to challenge the termination of their accounts if they have been incorrectly identified. Additionally, the bill stipulates that parents in the state can request the termination of their children’s accounts, which must be processed within 10 business days.
“You can have a kid in the house, safe, seemingly, and then you have predators that can get right in there into your own home. You can do everything right and they know how to manipulate these platforms,” DeSantis said.
The bill, expected to face legal challenges, is set to take effect in 2025.
California sheriff releases bodycam footage of fatal shooting of teen
Recently released bodycam footage has illuminated the circumstances surrounding the death of 15-year-old Ryan Gainer in San Bernardino County. According to authorities, deputies responded to a 911 call reporting assault and property damage.
Moments after deputies arrived at the scene at his family home in Apple Valley, Gainer, who was diagnosed with autism, allegedly charged at a deputy while clutching a 5-foot-long gardening tool, resulting in the fatal shooting.
The released bodycam footage from the sheriff’s department captures the moments leading up to the shooting, wherein the first responding deputy is heard attempting to deescalate the situation by instructing Gainer to drop the tool or he would be shot.
In the background of the video, Gainer’s family members can be heard questioning the deputies’ actions. Deputies attempted to administer aid to Gainer.
Reports indicate that the incident originated from Gainer’s frustration over not being permitted to listen to music on his laptop. The family’s attorney revealed that the situation had seemingly calmed down before law enforcement’s arrival, with Gainer issuing an apology.
Despite uncertainties surrounding whether authorities were made aware of Gainer’s autism, the family attorney asserts that some deputies were acquainted with him.
While San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus has defended the deputies’ actions, the community has voiced considerable backlash.
Ongoing investigations into the incident continue while calls for accountability mount.
Nex Benedict autopsy: Oklahoma teen died by suicide following school fight
The Feb. 7 incident at Owasso High School led to widespread condemnation from LGBTQ rights groups, who highlighted the issue of bullying at the school. The Owasso Police Department, which had been waiting for the autopsy results to confirm the cause of death amid initial uncertainty, stated that a report on the bathroom altercation was only filed after Benedict was taken to the hospital by relatives on the same day.
Prior to the release of the autopsy findings, police officials noted that preliminary results indicated Benedict did not die from physical injuries sustained in the fight.
An Owasso Police Department spokesman revealed that right from the start, investigators believed the tragic death of Nex was a case of suicide.
“From the beginning of this investigation, Owasso Police observed many indications that this death was the result of suicide,” Lt. Nick Boatman stated. “However, investigators did not wish to confirm that information without the final results being presented by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office.”
In an interview recorded on video with a school resource officer after the fight, Nex, who described how the conflict started: three girls mocked Nex and their friends over their clothing. Nex responded by pouring water on the girls.
“Then all three of them came at me,” Nex explained in the interview.
Vice President Kamala Harris to tour Minnesota abortion clinic in historic visit
Vice President Kamala Harris plans for a historic stop at an abortion clinic in Minnesota. And a man who lived most of his life in an iron lung passes away. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Vice President Kamala Harris to tour abortion clinic in Minnesota
Harris’ visit to a Planned Parenthood clinic is a key stop in her nationwide “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour, initiated in response to the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The landmark ruling had recognized a constitutional right to abortion for nearly five decades.
During her visit, the vice president plans to meet with healthcare providers and possibly interact with patients, highlighting the significance of safeguarding reproductive rights. The Supreme Court’s decision has prompted states like Minnesota to pass laws guaranteeing abortion rights, a measure Harris is expected to address, especially in light of abortion bans in other states.
The exact location of the clinic remains undisclosed due to potential protest concerns, with sources citing security reasons. The vice president’s team will likely reveal the details closer to the time of her visit.
This event marks the sixth stop on Harris’ tour, which began in January on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, underscoring the administration’s commitment to reproductive freedom amidst a shifting legal landscape.
Trump’s legal team to argue classified documents case should be dismissed
The case centers on documents found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, which his lawyers claim were designated as personal, thereby allowing Trump to retain them under the Presidential Records Act. However, Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team contends that the documents were not personal and that the act does not cover classified and top-secret documents.
Additionally, Trump’s legal team will argue that a portion of the Espionage Act, which pertains to retaining national defense information, is unconstitutionally vague as it applies to the former president. Smith’s team has countered, asserting the statute is clear.
Earlier this month, the judge also heard arguments from both parties regarding the setting of a trial date, though it remains unclear when either ruling on the case will be issued.
Hunter Biden has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges brought against him.
Israel plans to relocate civilians to ‘humanitarian islands’ before Rafah invasion
As the Israeli military gears up for a significant offensive in Rafah, plans are underway to relocate a large portion of the population from Gaza’s southernmost city, home to 1.4 million people, ahead of the operation. According to the IDF’s spokesperson, Israel intends to move civilians to “humanitarian islands” established with international community support in the center of the territory.
This move comes amidst warnings from Israel’s allies, including the United States, and aid organizations about the potential consequences of attacking the densely populated city. Many residents of Rafah have been displaced from other areas within the territory.
The objective of the planned offensive, Israel states, is to dismantle Hamas. The IDF spokesman detailed that the humanitarian islands would offer temporary housing, food, water, and other essential services to the displaced individuals. However, specifics regarding the start of evacuations or the offensive’s exact timing remain undisclosed.
Autopsy Report: Oklahoma teen died by suicide following school fight
The incident, which occurred on February 7 at Owasso High School, led to widespread condemnation from LGBTQ rights groups, who highlighted the issue of bullying at the school. The Owasso Police Department, which had been waiting for the autopsy results to confirm the cause of death amid initial uncertainty, stated that a report on the bathroom altercation was only filed after Benedict was taken to the hospital by relatives on the same day.
Prior to the release of the autopsy findings, police officials noted that preliminary results indicated Benedict did not die from physical injuries sustained in the fight.
Texas man who lived in iron lung for seven decades dies
Paul Alexander, a Texas man who spent seven decades living in an iron lung after being diagnosed with polio in 1952, has died at the age of 78. Alexander became a social media sensation in recent months.
Diagnosed at the age of 6 as the disease swept through Dallas, Alexander was left paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on an iron lung to breathe. Despite these challenges, he achieved remarkable milestones, graduating from college, earning a law degree, and practicing law for 30 years. Alexander also penned an autobiography, sharing his life’s journey.
His cause of death has not been specified, but his passing comes weeks after being hospitalized with COVID-19.
In January, Alexander launched a TikTok account named “Polio Paul,” quickly amassing hundreds of thousands of followers. Through his posts, he answered questions about his life and strongly advocated for polio vaccination for children, drawing widespread attention to his story and the importance of the vaccine.
NYC sues social media owners, alleges Big Tech made platforms addictive
In January, New York City became the first major U.S. city to declare social media an “environmental toxin.” On Wednesday, Feb. 14, Mayor Eric Adams announced that New York City has filed a lawsuit against five social media companies, alleging Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube and Snapchat knowingly made their platforms addictive for teens.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages from the companies and aims to hold Big Tech more accountable.
Adams claims New York City spends $100 million each year on mental health services and programs for adolescents. According to ABC News, the city is seeking to have some of that repaid in the lawsuit.
“NYC Plaintiffs have incurred and will continue to incur costs related to addressing the youth mental health crisis that Defendants created, caused, contributed to, and/or maintained,” the lawsuit said. “NYC Plaintiffs request relief relating to the damage or injury they have suffered, including actual and compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial.”
“Over the past decade, we have seen how addictive and overwhelming the online world can be, exposing children to content they are not ready for, disrupting the educational process, and seriously damaging their self-esteem,” Adams said during a press conference Wednesday.
In addition to the lawsuit, New York City officials are also calling for increased mental health care, pointing to data that shows rates of “suicidal ideation” have increased among adolescents. City officials are also requesting more research on the impact social media is having on the mental health of teens.
Recently, social media companies have faced increased scrutiny from state and national politicians. Several social media CEOs were questioned and scolded by some U.S. lawmakers during public testimony. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was pushed to apologize by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., during the hearing.
“Would you like to apologize to the victims who have been harmed by your product?” Hawley said. “Would you like to apologize for what you’ve done to these good people?”
“I’m sorry for everything you have been through,” Zuckerberg said as he faced the families in the audience. “No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered.”
Zuckerberg did, however, contend that a decline in mental health among teens is not directly related to his product.
In response to the New York City lawsuit, a Meta spokesperson told Reuters the company wanted teens to have “safe, age-appropriate experiences online.” A TikTok spokesperson also responded to ABC News’ report on the lawsuit, saying the company will “continue to work to keep the community safe by addressing industry-wide challenges.”
Google also issued a statement defending the company against the lawsuit.
“We’ve built services and products to give young people age-appropriate activities, experiences, and parents robust controls,” Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesperson, told Reuters. “The allegations in this complaint are simply not true.”
Snapchat also released a statement to ABC News.
“While we will always have more work to do, we feel good about the role Snapchat plays in helping close friends feel connected, happy, and prepared as they face the many challenges of adolescence,” said Ashley Adams, a Snapchat spokesperson.
While New York City looks to take legal action against social media companies, a federal judge in Ohio granted tech industry group NetChoice, which represents Facebook and TikTok among others, a legal win.
U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley ruled that an Ohio law requiring people under the age of 16 to get parental permission to use social media is unconstitutional, according to Reason Magazine.
“Foreclosing minors under the age of 16 from accessing all content on websites that the act purports to cover, absent affirmative parental consent, is a breathtakingly blunt instrument for reducing social media’s harm to children,” Marbley wrote.
Marbley’s temporary injunction is another blow to an increasing trend nationwide of requiring age verification to use social media apps. A federal judge ruled in September that an age restriction in Arkansas violated the First Amendment, blocking the law.
Meta, facing heat from all sides, announces safety measures for minors
A bipartisan group of state attorneys general filed a joint lawsuit against Meta, alleging that Facebook’s parent company knowingly used addictive features in its apps, negatively impacting children’s health. Lawmakers, often in disagreement, united together to demand answers from Meta’s leadership on its impact on minors.
“Look, we have a tremendous amount of evidence and information that’s been developed that shows that Meta knowingly has designed its products in a way to maximize its ad revenue by addicting young teenagers onto its products,” District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb said.
“They hid from this committee and from all of Congress evidence of the harms that they knew was credible,” Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said.
“They are deliberately misleading parents about what’s on their platform,” Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said. “They are deliberately misleading parents about the safety of their children online.”
Now, Meta announces plans to expand safety measures for children and teens on its social media platforms. The goal is to make it harder for young users to come across sensitive content.
The company will implement restrictive settings on the accounts of teens and children, preventing users from searching “sensitive topics” and prompting teens to update their privacy settings.
In a blog post, Meta said Facebook and Instagram will hide search results for content related to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, and nudity. Teens can still make posts on these subjects but won’t see them in their feed or stories, even if shared by someone they follow.
Meta aims to automatically place all teens under the most restrictive content control setting. These changes follow a whistleblower’s testimony to a Senate panel in November, stating that Meta knew harmful content was present on its platforms and company executives were taking no action.
“As a parent, I took the work personally,” Arturo Bejar, a former Meta employee, said. “By the time I left in 2015, I thought the work was going in the right direction. A few years later, my 14-year-old daughter joined Instagram. She and her friends began having awful experiences, including repeated unwanted sexual advances and harassment. She reported the incidents to the company, and it did nothing.”
Meta states the new update should be complete in a couple of weeks, just in time for CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s child safety testimony on Capitol Hill.