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�� f'a 'i rplay �� c l,,�HdV ood beyorid Ibrands Written Testimony of Josh Golin Executive Director, Fairplay Before the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on "Protecting our Children Online" February 14, 2023 My name is Josh Golin and I am Executive Director of Fairplay. I would like to thank Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Graham, and the Distinguished Members of the Committee for holding this hearing of critical importance to America's families, and for inviting me to testify. For more than a decade, social media companies have been performing a vast uncontrolled experiment on our children. They use the reams of data they collect on young people and endless A/B testing to fine tune their platforms' algorithms and design to maximize engagement, because more time and activity on a platform means more revenue. And because the way these platforms engage with young people is largely unregulated, there is no obligation to consider and mitigate the harmful effects of their design choices on children and teens. The resulting impact on children and families has been devastating. Compulsive overuse, exposure to harmful and age-inappropriate content, cyberbullying, eating disorders, harms to mental health, and the sexual exploitation of children are just some of the problems linked to Big Tech's insidious business model. It doesn't have to be this way. Instead of prioritizing engagement and data collection, apps, websites, and online platforms could be built in ways that reduce risks and increase safeguards for children and teens. With many young people now spending a majority of their waking hours online and on social media, improving the digital environment so it is safer and not exploitative or addictive is one of the most important things we can do to address the mental health crisis. But that won't happen through self-regulation. It is past time for Congress to enact legislation that expands privacy protections for young people and requires online operators to prioritize children's wellbeing in their design choices. Without meaningful congressional action, children and teens will continue to be harmed in the most serious and tragic ways by Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and thousands of lesser known apps, websites, and platforms. My testimony today will describe how many of the most serious issues facing children and teens online are a direct result of design choices made to further companies' bottom lines, and Congress's failure to enact meaningful safeguards. I will then describe the types of protections that should be included in any online safety and privacy legislation.