SUMMARY

Senators interrogated CEOs of top social media companies about online child safety Wednesday in an emotional and contentious hearing, as they tried to get them to back proposed legislation. But much of the focus was on questions of accountability. Lisa Desjardins reports on what took place and Amna Nawaz speaks with Christine McComas, whose daughter died by suicide after being bullied online.

For a transcript of this story, click here.

Start to 5:04: Congressional hearing with tech executives

5:05 - end: Interview with mother whose daughter died by suicide after being bullied online

News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM UP QUESTIONS

1. What issues of accountability came up in the hearing with major technology executives?
2. Who attended the hearing and which companies did they represent?
3. Why did lawmakers request a hearing with this group of businesspeople?
4. How did the presence of family members whose children died by suicide after they were bullied online affect the hearing?
5. Where are national laws that could change the way tech companies operate made? (You may want to do additional research on state laws that have passed and how social media companies have challenged them under the First Amendment.)

FOCUS QUESTIONS

1. As discussed in this story, what problems might be solved by regulating large technology companies, including passing KOSA (Kids Online Safety Act)? What potential drawbacks might occur under new regulations proposed by lawmakers?
2. What did you make of Mark Zuckerberg's apology? (Zuckerberg is CEO/chief executive officer of Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
3. What were your thoughts after hearing from Christine McComas, whose daughter died by suicide after being bullied online? According to the New York Times, "Despite years of railing against Big Tech in public, no meaningful legislation has moved its way through Congress to be signed into law."
   1. What do you think it will take for Congress to pass child online safety regulations? What types of laws do you think should be passed in order to help prevent cyberbullying and keep children safe?

Media literacy: What additional issues do young people face online that you did not hear discussed in this piece or at the hearing?

What did you make of Zuckerberg's apology? Was it warranted? Sincere? Was it a sensational moment for the lawmakers? Explain.

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?

FOR MORE

What students can do: Learn more about some of the regulations that have been discussed over the years, including KOSA and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, and why groups support and oppose these rules.

Watch one or both of the videos below via PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL) and

Click here to view PBS' American Black Journal below https://www.pbs.org/video/the-effects-of-social-media-on-teens-mental-health-fa8jbl/.

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