Matt Bergman Interviewed on The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper
Attorney Matthew Bergman recently appeared on an episode of The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper, hosted by CNN anchor host Audie Cornish. The episode documents the hardships of families whose children have been negatively impacted by social media and the ongoing fight in Washington to ensure the safety of children and teens online. You can […]
The Surgeon General Issues an Urgent New Advisory on the Harmful Effects of Social Media on Young People
United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy has issued an urgent public advisory describing the risks of social media for young people and concluding that we lack sufficient evidence that social media is safe. He is urging technology companies, research institutions, lawmakers, and families to take immediate steps to mitigate the harmful effects of […]
What is the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act?
The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act is a bipartisan bill introduced on April 26, 2023, by U.S. senators Brian Schatz, Tom Cotton, Chris Murphy, and Katie Britt. The bill would set the minimum age requirement to use social media apps to 13 years old, require children under 18 to obtain parental consent before using […]
California Social Media Laws
Social media can have a profoundly damaging impact on young people. Several new and proposed California social media laws will better hold companies accountable for that harm. Because so many social media companies are based in California, shifts at the state level can shape the legal landscape for millions of users. Social Media Victims Law […]
Florida Social Media Laws
The negative effects of social media on young people have been felt in Florida and across the United States. In response, the Sunshine State’s legislature has attempted to strengthen Florida’s social media laws to protect children and teenagers. If your family has been harmed, social media laws in Florida may allow you to recover damages. […]
Utah Social Media Laws
The governor of Utah signed the Utah Social Media Regulation Act into law in March 2023. The Act requires social media platforms to verify users’ ages and get parental consent before minors can use their platforms. The Social Media Victims Law Center tracks new laws, such as the Utah social media laws explained here, to […]
Facebook Whistleblower: Frances Haugen
Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, caused a major public outcry when she revealed thousands of internal Facebook documents confirming that Facebook was aware of the negative impact social media has on many teens. Although parents and experts had been aware of social media’s harmful effects on kids for years, Haugen’s revelations finally confirmed that […]
Section 230
Social media platforms hide behind Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to avoid liability when they fail to take reasonable measures to protect their users from harm. This outdated law was passed in 1996, before the rise of social media, and must be changed to hold social media companies accountable when their platforms cause […]
Online Safety Bill
The United Kingdom is considering legislation that, if passed, would fundamentally change how the internet and social media can be used by children and young adults. It would also open the door for civil litigation if children are able to access harmful or illegal material. Given that the internet is a widely unregulated space, it’s […]