“We’re seeing troubling data about the corrosive impact of constant social media use, particularly on young men and women here in America,” he said. However, these concerns over TikTok are not without merit. The app has faced criticism over its handling of user data, and there are valid concerns that this data could potentially fall into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. While TikTok has repeatedly stated that its U.S. user data is not based in China, these assurances have done little to quell the concerns of legislators and the FBI. As a result, Congress recently passed a bipartisan spending bill that bans the use of TikTok on government devices. However, TikTok is not the only social media company that can expect to face increased regulation this year. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) has stated that she expects Congress to continue its focus on tech companies in 2023.
Facebook Whistleblower Calls for Algorithm Transparency
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has also weighed in on the debate, stating that regulators should push for greater transparency regarding the algorithms used by social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. Given that these platforms all operate using similar algorithms, Haugen believes that increased transparency is a necessary first step in the process of regulating these companies. Haugen said she thinks most people are unaware of how far behind the U.S. is when it comes to social media regulation. “This is like we’re back in 1965, we don’t have seatbelt laws yet,” she told on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” It remains to be seen what further regulations may be implemented this year, but social media companies will continue to be a focus for lawmakers as they work to protect the data and privacy of U.S. citizens
