Josh Hawley pushes Mark Zuckerberg to apologize to families of children harmed by social media

On Jan. 31, 2024, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify at a time when lawmakers and parents are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives.

The hearing began with recorded testimony from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media. Throughout the hourslong event, parents who lost children to suicide silently held up pictures of their dead kids.

"They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online,” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. “Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.”

In a heated question and answer session with Mark Zuckerberg, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley asked the Meta CEO if he has personally compensated any of the victims and their families for what they have been through.

“I don't think so,” Zuckerberg replied.

“There's families of victims here,” Hawley said. “Would you like to apologize to them?”

Zuckerberg stood, turned away from his microphone and the senators, and directly addressed the parents in the gallery.

“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding that Meta continues to invest and work on “industrywide efforts” to protect children.

[jorm]

Bet his lawyers are sweating bullets. Because isn't an apology is a form of an admission of guilt??

[broz]

If social media is harming children, then children should not be allowed to use social media, in the same way children are not allowed to drink alcohol.
Parents need to take responsibility for raising their kids and not look for scapegoats for their poor parenting and inability to say no to their little darlings.

[farmerjohn]

The apology fixes nothing that he did to the world

[patrickburke]

He’s not sorry. Maybe he should say sorry for helping destroy the last election.

[gravefrightn]

Its not marks fault that his platform has had people killed. That is idocracy to blame him. Just like automobile deaths, or any death related to any products sold. Accidents or not. The person is reliable. Not what was used. Just like war. Was it the bomb manufacturer that killed, or the ones who used it?

[phillipkalaveras]

I am no Zuckerberg fan but you can't blame him for bad parenting.

[cakefete]

I'm not sure an apology under duress counts as a genuine apology, but i appreciate that he turned to look them in their faces and promise changed behavior.

[jeebuscrise]

Political theater. Facebook cannot be held accountable for what we here post. Most would cry 1st Amendment, censorship etc. Raise your kids yourself. Stop expecting corporations to parent when you won't.

[steelmaster]

Damn...they got him to admit fault...incoming liability suits

[GamingStepByStep]

What they dont tell you however is the horrors the workers have to witness to screen facebook of bad intentions in the first place

[edwardstauffer]

THIS IS SO WRONG IN SO MANY WAYS!!@@@@

[JorgeRodriguez-edpu]

Josh Hawley. Why should he apologize to the families!!! We all are owners of our own life's If you decide to take your life it's your Decision to do so.


Like Trump said Josh Hawley You're Fired!!!

[Rasidawg]

Its not his fault . They did it to themselves!! People just looking for scapegoat

[michaeljames]

He really didn't want to apologize he's not sorry, he's just sorry he got caught. A person that really feels remorse you do not have to ask them to apologize they do it from the heart wholeheartedly.

[richardspillers]

This is why he's building that bunker. He knows when this country finally collapses he'd be a top target.

[IAMyourTrueGOD]

That must have been humbling and humiliating… good! Mark did handle it maturely though I must say. Still I think his sinister ways warrant correction.

[Rumplestiltskin]

Nope . I dont accept his empty apologies at all EVER

[SergKid]

I love Josh Hawley, keep up the good work !! As a young man finding his way into politics, Josh Hawley has an amazing future for the Republican Party

[individualisticmind]

Wow they got a great look at the back of his head lol

[terrylocke]

Maybe parents should spend some time with their kids and stuff like this would not happen as often