Governor Whitmer Urges Federal Action Against Social Media Giants
Amid growing concerns over the influence of social media on children’s mental health, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called for stronger federal measures to combat the addictive tactics employed by these platforms. The governor’s appeal came during a summit held on Tuesday, which was attended by organizations advocating for the accountability of internet companies.
Windsor Western, who co-founded the activist group Her Campus Media, highlighted recent legal actions that have been taken against social media giants. She pointed to jury decisions in New Mexico and Los Angeles that found companies like Meta and YouTube responsible for fostering online addiction to meet their growth objectives. Western stated, “We are officially in a new era. Last month’s verdicts against Meta and YouTube proved what everyone in this room already knew – that infinite scroll is not an accident. They did it on purpose. It was an engineering choice to keep us all addicted.” Both companies have the option to appeal the verdicts.
State-level measures have been taken in Michigan, such as laws to limit screen time in classrooms, prohibit device usage while driving, and outlaw the creation of AI-generated explicit images of individuals without consent. However, Whitmer argues that the issue transcends state boundaries, necessitating federal intervention. “So, we’ve taken the action that we can at the state level, but we need to do a hell of a lot more,” Whitmer stated. “We’ll do what we can. So long as I’m governor, we’ll make sure to do that, but, I think, ultimately, I think we are going to need federal legislation on this front.”
Currently, bills pending in the Michigan Senate aim to mandate social media companies to implement protective measures for minors, addressing business practices linked to increased risks of depression and suicide.
—
Read More Michigan News
