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AMERICAN V AM PSY'CN^ OLOGICA Usm wow ASSOCIATION TMEM Now SERVICES,INC. P more about these dangers, how best to communicate the risks with their children, and ultimately how to educate their children on the best methods for using social media in a safe way. APA also advocates for Congress and federal agencies to require social media companies to do more to combat this issue. Platforms can create and provide new tools aimed at mitigating_ the harms associated with platform use. Requiring social media companies to provide children and their caregivers with options to make changes to their social media settings can promote mental health by protecting their information, disabling features that are particularly addictive, and opting out of algorithm processes that serve up problematic or harmful content. Social media companies can also be required to set defaults to address harms to young users. Warnings on harmful content should also be considered to reduce exposure of young people to content that may negatively_ impact their mental health or well-being and companies should be held accountable for the proliferation of this content. Social medial companies should acknowledge known impacts of their platforms,providing warnings and resources to parents and caregivers of young users, develop plans to mitigate known harms, and determine whether these warnings and plans were effective, with iterative updates based on these findings. Social media platforms must work to prevent and mitigate harmful content, such as promotion of self-harm, suicide,eating disorders,substance use and sexual exploitation.Independent audits can assess risks and determine whether platforms are taking meaningful steps to prevent damage and these must be paired with enforcement actions and accountability mechanisms for when platforms fail to effectively mitigate harms to children. As discussed throughout this testimony, more must be done to specifically protect those children belonging to traditionally marginalized and minoritized communities. Mental health and other harms can disproportionately fall on LGBTQ+ youth, and resources should be dedicated to ensuring a reduction in these harms. More must be required of platforms to discourage and prevent cyberbullying and other forms of online hate and discrimination. Reporting structures should be 21 APA.ORG APASERVICES.ORG 750 Furst street,NIIE 202.336.5800 Advocating for APA rVteYx tiers and psychology Washington,DC'20002-4242 202.336,6123 TDD