US lawmakers pressed the tech mogul to answer for damage inflicted on youths through his platforms
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg offered an apology to victims and relatives of people harmed by his social media sites, including teens who were sexually abused online as well as those who took their own lives following digital bullying.
During a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, the Facebook founder was grilled about the negative effects his products have on children and teenagers, with families and victims sharing concerns on a wide range of issues, including sexual predators, mental health and the addictive nature of social media.
Following their testimony, Republican Senator Josh Hawley asked the CEO whether he had personally compensated any of the families for what they endured, with Zuckerberg responding “I don’t think so.”
Asked if he would like to apologize to the victims, Zuckerberg took the opportunity, turning to address the parents and teens in attendance.
“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding that his company would continue to invest in “industry-wide efforts” to protect youths. He pointed to Meta’s parental control tools, which can limit the content kids see online.
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