CEOs from Meta, X, TikTok, Snap, and Discord were pressed by lawmakers Wednesday over their platforms’ policies regarding potentially harmful content for teenagers and children during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

The Details: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) criticized Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, declaring, “Mr. Zuckerberg, you have blood on your hands,” and alleging, “You have a product that’s killing people.” This sentiment was echoed by other senators, who accused the tech giants of prioritizing profit and engagement over user safety. From the audience, parents of children allegedly victimized by social media held up portraits of their deceased children. The CEOs, in their respective opening remarks, outlined the steps their companies are taking to combat child sexual abuse material and rebutted allegations that social media has a negative impact on youths' mental well-being.

For Context: Senators on the committee are currently attempting to gain support for several bills aimed at curbing Big Tech. One such bill, the EARN IT Act, seeks to amend a Communications Decency Act provision that protects platforms from liability for users' posts. Another bill, the Kids Online Safety Act, would compel tech companies to implement controls, such as screen time limits and access restriction options, for underage users.

How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum prominently covered the hearing, with Graham’s “blood on your hands” comment frequently leading coverage. Reuters (Center bias) included no direct quotes from the CEOs, whereas the Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) included quotes from the CEOs refuting certain accusations.

This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.