Something Democrats and Republicans Agree on

Facebook is planning to start an Instagram service for children under 13, but attorneys general from 44 states and territories have sent a letter asking it to abort its plans. The letter references detrimental health effects of social media on kids, and Facebook’s less than stellar record dealing with children on its platform. Protecting children seems to be something Democrats and Republicans can agree on, as demonstrated by the bipartisan group of AGs signing the letter, which said kids “are not equipped to handle the range of challenges that come with having an Instagram account.” It also cited news reports and research findings that social media, and Instagram in particular, had a negative effect on kids’ mental well-being, including lower self-esteem and suicidal ideation. In 2019, YouTube reached a $170 million settlement with the FTC and New York’s attorney general over claims it illegally earned money from collecting the personal information of kids without parental consent in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.