According to the Agence France-Presse, Meta's CEO said while standing before victims of digital platform abuses and their families in a congressional hall, "I'm sorry for everything you've been through," stressing that "no one should have to endure what your families have suffered."

The issue enjoys a political consensus across different orientations and numerous associations accuse social networks of not providing adequate protection for youth, especially against risks of sexual exploitation or suicide.

Zuckerberg (Meta), Linda Yaccarino ("X"), Shou Zi Chew (TikTok), Evan Spiegel (Snapchat), and Jason Citron (Discord) faced a barrage of critical comments.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham addressed the platform directors, "Mr. Zuckerberg and representatives of the companies here, I realize that you did not intend this, but your hands are stained with blood. You provide a product that kills people."

Zuckerberg discussed the numerous measures his group has taken to protect the younger demographic, reiterating that Meta has invested more than $20 billion in safety since 2016 and has employed 40,000 people in the content management and platform safety departments.

"We work tirelessly to provide parents and teenagers with the necessary support and tools to reduce risks," he stated.

"Ensuring the safety of the young online is a challenge that has existed since the internet's inception, and as criminals develop their tactics, we must evolve our defenses," he added.

TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew said: "As a father of three young children, I understand the issues raised today are horrifying and feed the nightmares of all parents," adding, "I intend to invest more than $2 billion in safety, and just this year alone we have employed 40,000 specialists working on this issue."

"X" will create a new department dedicated to overseeing the platform, which will enlist about a hundred people specifically to combat this phenomenon, according to a statement released Friday.

Regarding Facebook, Senate members referred to internal documents that prove Zuckerberg rejected the expansion of teams responsible for tracking risks teens face. Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal stated: "The level of hypocrisy is astounding."

New Regulations
These documents fall within a lawsuit filed by nearly forty U.S. states at the end of last October. They assert that Meta is "harming the mental and physical health of the youth," pointing to addiction risks, cyberbullying, and eating disorders.

Under United States law, digital platforms are largely shielded from legal liability for the content posted on their sites.

Many legislators hope to pass more laws to better regulate this matter. However, new legislation has been stalled in Congress due to divisions over solutions and intense lobbying from major tech companies.

Among the currently implemented regulations is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which aims to protect children from algorithms that could provoke anxiety or depression.

Another idea being considered is requiring social media platforms to verify the ages of network users and prohibit children under 13 from using the services.

Senator John Neely Kennedy told platform heads, "I don't think you'll solve the problem. Congress will have to help you."