Parents and Advocates Urge Action from Social Media Platforms
A collective of parents, child advocates, and family policy organizations is urging TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat to implement the same protective measures for minors that Meta has recently adopted. They believe these changes should set a new industry benchmark.
In a letter addressed to these platforms, which was acquired by FOX Business, the American Principles Project alongside various organizations and community leaders described Meta’s safety enhancements as a “new and higher standard for the industry,” positing that it should establish a “whole new rulebook” for social media.
“Platforms like TikTok and Snapchat have a responsibility to follow suit and adopt changes similar to those of Meta. Our kids need constant protection,” Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, told FOX Business.
The letter outlines specific recommendations including strict daily time limits, restrictions during school hours and at night, enhanced parental control over algorithm-driven feeds and autoplay, hidden likes by default, and measures for age verification.
The authors of the letter caution that if children who are barred from using Facebook and Instagram can simply turn to other platforms, then Meta’s protections could end up having minimal impact. They argue that a fragmented set of rules could create loopholes in the safety measures designed for minors.
This push for stronger measures follows Meta’s settlement reached in August, which involved cooperation with a group of 52 state attorneys general. The agreement includes a commitment to pay as much as $18 billion and revamp the experiences for teenagers on Facebook and Instagram.
“These are meaningful changes that recognize parental rights and significantly influence how minors engage with these platforms. However, since these protections only apply to two apps, we remain concerned that the responsibility toward safeguarding kids isn’t fully addressed,” the letter explained.
Schilling highlighted growing concerns among children about social media, such as anxiety, body image issues, and exposure to explicit content.
The letter emphasizes the risks present across TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat, including the potential for exposure to violent or sexual material and interactions with “drug dealers and predators.”
“We have to improve the safety of the internet,” Schilling stated, underlining that major platforms must not exploit children for profit.
The group also noted initiatives in states like Utah, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama, aimed at enforcing age verification and requiring parental consent for app usage. Until more comprehensive federal legislation is in place, they are asking TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat to voluntarily adopt the same safeguards that Meta has agreed to.
“Families nationwide deserve consistent and enforceable safety standards on every platform their children access. We implore you to prioritize children’s health and safety,” the letter concluded.
Schilling, a father of eight, dismissed the idea that current protections are sufficient: “I’ve seen what content my kids come across. I’m working hard to shield them, but we definitely need more support.” He added, “Ensuring the innocence of our children and protecting them from harmful influences is paramount.”
FOX Business has reached out to TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat for their responses.
