Kids over Clicks
Big Tech designs addiction for their profit, and our kids pay the price.
As we rapidly accelerate into the age of digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancements, it’s clear that our youth are bearing the brunt of the harmful consequences. Big Tech profits from exploitative, dangerous algorithms that prey on vulnerable users, particularly our kids — and it’s well past time to hold them accountable.
Monday, March 23 | 6 PM
Grosse Pointe Farms
Hosted by State Senator Kevin Hertel
Kids over Clicks
Big Tech designs addiction for their profit, and our kids pay the price.
As we rapidly accelerate into the age of digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancements, it’s clear that our youth are bearing the brunt of the harmful consequences. Big Tech profits from exploitative, dangerous algorithms that prey on vulnerable users, particularly our kids — and it’s well past time to hold them accountable.
Monday, March 23 | 6 PM
Grosse Pointe Farms
Hosted by State Senator Kevin Hertel
1.
Addictive feeds keep kids scrolling nonstop
Social media platforms are intentionally designed to keep consumers coming back for more. Engagement, including likes and comments, triggers dopamine to be released in the brain, and overuse can even rewire children’s brains to constantly seek out more immediate gratification.
2.
Personal data is tracked and sold
Big Tech deliberately undermines the data privacy of our kids, harvesting device information, location, and usage patterns that are then sold to data brokers. From there, detailed profiles for our kids are built for targeted advertising to influence future purchases. By the time an American kid reaches 13 years old, online advertising firms have already, on average, collected 72 million data points on that child.
3.
Chatbots blur emotional boundaries
Human-like AI chatbots have emboldened kids across the nation to engage in self-harming behaviors, illegal activities, and sexually explicit interactions, even leading some teenagers to death by suicide.
4.
No real enforcement when harm happens
Big Tech companies have largely avoided liability for real-world harms associated with use of their platforms through legal immunity, extensive political influence, strategic manipulation of public information flows, and other methods.
As a result, our kids are facing unprecedented levels of mental health struggles, social media addiction, exposure to explicit content, an alarming decline of social skills, among a slew of other harmful repercussions.
1. Addictive feeds keep kids scrolling nonstop
Social media platforms are intentionally designed to keep consumers coming back for more. Engagement, including likes and comments, triggers dopamine to be released in the brain, and overuse can even rewire children’s brains to constantly seek out more immediate gratification.
2. Personal data is tracked and sold
Big Tech deliberately undermines the data privacy of our kids, harvesting device information, location, and usage patterns that are then sold to data brokers. From there, detailed profiles for our kids are built for targeted advertising to influence future purchases. By the time an American kid reaches 13 years old, online advertising firms have already, on average, collected 72 million data points on that child.
3. Chatbots blur emotional boundaries
Human-like AI chatbots have emboldened kids across the nation to engage in self-harming behaviors, illegal activities, and sexually explicit interactions, even leading some teenagers to death by suicide.
4. No real enforcement when harm happens
Big Tech companies have largely avoided liability for real-world harms associated with use of their platforms through legal immunity, extensive political influence, strategic manipulation of public information flows, and other methods.
As a result, our kids are facing unprecedented levels of mental health struggles, social media addiction, exposure to explicit content, an alarming decline of social skills, among a slew of other harmful repercussions.
Time stopped the day I lost my daughter London Izabella-Ryén Gadd — a kind, sensitive twelve-year-old with big dreams, who wanted to enroll in the Air Force and become a commercial pilot. Social media did not protect her; it exposed her to harms no child should ever face. I am still stuck in that moment. No parent should have to beg a corporation to understand how their child was harmed. Michigan must protect our children — they are our future.
– Charay Gadd
a mother from Ovid, Michigan, whose daughter died by suicide
after a years-long battle with social media addiction.
“Time stopped the day I lost my daughter London Izabella-Ryén Gadd — a kind, sensitive twelve-year-old with big dreams, who wanted to enroll in the Air Force and become a commercial pilot. Social media did not protect her; it exposed her to harms no child should ever face. I am still stuck in that moment. No parent should have to beg a corporation to understand how their child was harmed. Michigan must protect our children — they are our future.”
– Charay Gadd
a mother from Ovid, Michigan, whose daughter died by suicide after a years-long battle with social media addiction.
%
of the top social media platforms use AI to recommend children’s profiles to strangers
%
of parents feel their children’s mental health has suffered over the last year due to social media.
%
of teenagers said they lose sleep daily due to feeling “stuck” on social media platforms.
1. SOURCE: Science Daily | Advertising in kids’ apps more prevalent than parents may realize 2. SOURCE: Nationwide Children’s Hospital 3. SOURCE: Wall Street Journal | His Job Was to Make Instagram Safe for Teens. His 14-Year-Old Showed Him What the App Was Really like
%
of the top social media platforms use AI to recommend children’s profiles to strangers
%
of parents feel their children’s mental health has suffered over the last year due to social media.
%
of teenagers said they lose sleep daily due to feeling “stuck” on social media platforms.
1. SOURCE: Science Daily | Advertising in kids’ apps more prevalent than parents may realize 2. SOURCE: Nationwide Children’s Hospital 3. SOURCE: Wall Street Journal | His Job Was to Make Instagram Safe for Teens. His 14-Year-Old Showed Him What the App Was Really like
The Solution
While Big Tech refuses to take accountability or implement the necessary guardrails to protect our kids from the threats associated with their platforms, Michigan Senate Democrats are stepping up and working hard to ensure that our youth are safeguarded from these digital threats.
We introduced Senate Bills 757–760 to better protect Michigan kids from the well-documented dangers of unfettered social media and AI usage. Crafted in tandem with industry experts, advocates, and parents, this bill package holds Big Tech accountable for unethical practices, empowers Michigan parents with more control and transparency, and addresses emerging risks associated with AI and social media use.
The Solution
While Big Tech refuses to take accountability or implement the necessary guardrails to protect our kids from the threats associated with their platforms, Michigan Senate Democrats are stepping up and working hard to ensure that our youth are safeguarded from these digital threats.
We introduced Senate Bills 757–760 to better protect Michigan kids from the well-documented dangers of unfettered social media and AI usage. Crafted in tandem with industry experts, advocates, and parents, this bill package holds Big Tech accountable for unethical practices, empowers Michigan parents with more control and transparency, and addresses emerging risks associated with AI and social media use.
The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act
(Senate Bill 757) would prohibit social media platforms from providing addictive, personal data-driven feeds to minors unless parental consent is given.
The Kids Code Act
(Senate Bills 758–759) would mandate stricter data privacy and safety settings for minors on digital platforms while also giving parents more control over their children’s online accounts.
The Leading Ethical AI Development (LEAD) for Kids Act
(Senate Bill 760) would ensure that dangerous AI companion chatbots are inaccessible to children, including those that have the capability to encourage harmful, explicit, or illegal activities.
The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act
(Senate Bill 757) would prohibit social media platforms from providing addictive, personal data-driven feeds to minors unless parental consent is given.
The Kids Code Act
(Senate Bills 758–759) would mandate stricter data privacy and safety settings for minors on digital platforms while also giving parents more control over their children’s online accounts.
The Leading Ethical AI Development (LEAD) for Kids Act
(Senate Bill 760) would ensure that dangerous AI companion chatbots are inaccessible to children, including those that have the capability to encourage harmful, explicit, or illegal activities.
For years, we have seen tech giants engage in pure profit-driven practices without any regard for the well-being of their users, no matter their age. Their goal is simple: to keep people, including our kids, addicted to endless scrolling and content consumption, even when it threatens their mental health, development, or safety. As long as they can monetize that harm, they will keep doing it. And since Big Tech won’t provide the necessary guardrails needed to protect our kids, we’re stepping up and holding them accountable.
– Senator Darrin Camilleri
(D-Trenton), sponsor of the SAFE for Kids Act
“For years, we have seen tech giants engage in pure profit-driven practices without any regard for the well-being of their users, no matter their age. Their goal is simple: to keep people, including our kids, addicted to endless scrolling and content consumption, even when it threatens their mental health, development, or safety. As long as they can monetize that harm, they will keep doing it. And since Big Tech won’t provide the necessary guardrails needed to protect our kids, we’re stepping up and holding them accountable.”
– Senator Darrin Camilleri
(D-Trenton), sponsor of the SAFE for Kids Act
Become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of this Legislation
We invite you to share your own experiences as a parent, guardian, or advocate who has been forced to navigate the detrimental consequences of rampant social media and AI usage. Whether your child has been exposed to harmful content online, your teenager has faced social media addiction, or your family’s well-being has been disrupted by their digital habits, your personal stories are powerful.
Together, our collective narrative can help shed light on the problem and influence a better, safer future online for our kids and families.
Become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of this Legislation
We invite you to share your own experiences as a parent, guardian, or advocate who has been forced to navigate the detrimental consequences of rampant social media and AI usage. Whether your child has been exposed to harmful content online, your teenager has faced social media addiction, or your family’s well-being has been disrupted by their digital habits, your personal stories are powerful.
Together, our collective narrative can help shed light on the problem and influence a better, safer future online for our kids and families.