CHICAGO, IL — Yesterday, Governor JB Pritzker published a Substack article condemning social media companies for feeding children addictive content and threatening children’s safety online. This comes after Meta agreed to pay $17.1 billion last week, as part of a settlement against the tech company for the ways it has harmed children.
Gov. Pritzker highlighted the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, which he signed into law this year, as a measure he has taken to foster a safe online experience for children.
Gov. Pritzker exposed social media companies for harming children and their mental health: “Let’s be clear: Big Tech knows what they’re doing. Meta’s settlement is just the latest example of these companies being confronted with the damage their platforms cause. In 2024, executives at Meta, TikTok, Snap, and X were called before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer for the ways that their companies put kids at risk of cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and eating disorders.”
Gov. Pritzker detailed how his new legislation safeguards kids from addictive social media algorithms and content: “For years, tech companies have monitored children’s data to learn what kind of content they like… Then, they feed them more and more of it. This new law in Illinois changes that… The legislation bans tech companies from using minors’ viewing history to feed them more addictive content from users unknown to them. Instead, children will only see content they explicitly search for or from accounts they have chosen to follow.”
Gov. Pritzker called out Trump and MAGA Republicans for putting social media tycoons ahead of keeping children safe: “Unfortunately, Republicans in Washington are letting parents and kids down by acting as sycophants for Trump’s agenda of protecting his friends who run the Big Tech companies. Here in Illinois, we’re showing what it actually means to fight for kids. We’re leading the nation on this front with, frankly, common sense protections.”
Read the full piece below:
JB Pritzker | Substack: Social Media Companies Are Damaging Our Kids’ Educations and Mental Health. It’s About Time They Paid For It.
In 2023, a group of 33 states, including Illinois, sued Meta for exposing children to addictive and harmful content online. Over the next three years, 47 states in total would eventually join that suit. And last week, Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion.
My view? It’s about time.
Whenever I talk to Illinois parents and teachers, I consistently hear the same thing: “I’m worried about what social media is doing to our kids.”
Unfortunately, Big Tech has never shared their concern. In fact, just the opposite: tech companies design these algorithms to be addictive.
The more addicted kids become, the more money the companies make. So they decided to turn a blind eye—even though the research has long been clear that social media is hurting our kids.
To start, social media is destroying children’s attention spans, making it harder to succeed in school.
It’s also making kids financially vulnerable: in 2023, people under the age of 20 lost $312 million to online scams.
Some children who have more screen time between the ages of three and five even develop different brain structures.
What’s more, kids who spend three or more hours online each day are twice as likely to experience negative mental health outcomes, including symptoms of anxiety and depression.
And as children grapple with those mental health issues, it becomes harder and harder to socialize or make friends, which leads to—you guessed it—more time on social media.
Let’s be clear: Big Tech knows what they’re doing. Meta’s settlement is just the latest example of these companies being confronted with the damage their platforms cause. In 2024, executives at Meta, TikTok, Snap, and X were called before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer for the ways that their companies put kids at risk of cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and eating disorders.
They know, though, that helping kids means less money for them. So they’re looking the other way and raking in billions for it.
I’m glad that Meta is finally paying a price for the damage they’ve caused. But we can’t let a nearly $1.5 trillion company paper over that with a check. We need to go even further in holding these companies accountable to make sure that their ubiquitous platforms are safe for our kids.
That’s why a month ago, I signed the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, which establishes some of the most comprehensive safeguards against these addictive platforms in the nation.
For years, tech companies have monitored children’s data to learn what kind of content they like: mainly things that trigger either anger or euphoria. Then, they feed them more and more of it, keeping people glued to the screen. This new law in Illinois changes that.
In addition to requiring that social media platforms verify a user’s age, the legislation bans tech companies from using minors’ viewing history to feed them more addictive content from users unknown to them. Instead, children will only see content they explicitly search for or from accounts they have chosen to follow.
It also restricts the platforms from sending nighttime notifications to kids, limits children’s exposure to adult strangers, and empowers parents to tailor their kids’ experience.
In short: it breaks the iron grip these platforms have on our kids’ attention spans.
Right now, parents are very focused on online child safety, and for good reason. Keeping kids in America safe and healthy is core to everything we stand for as a nation.
Unfortunately, Republicans in Washington are letting parents and kids down by acting as sycophants for Trump’s agenda of protecting his friends who run the Big Tech companies. Here in Illinois, we’re showing what it actually means to fight for kids. We’re leading the nation on this front with, frankly, common sense protections.
Contrary to what Trump and MAGA are saying, our new law doesn’t stop people from connecting with their friends and loved ones online. It doesn’t censor anyone. It just makes these platforms safer for children. And, in tandem with it, I signed legislation banning cell phone use during the school day so kids will stay focused in the classroom and do better in school.
To no one’s surprise, Big Tech hated our Children’s Social Media Safety Act.
Nevertheless, I’m thrilled to say that it passed both chambers of the Illinois legislature with unanimous, bipartisan support.
Because despite what Big Tech thinks, protecting kids is essential.
And while they are unwilling to stand up for children, here in Illinois we always will.
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CONTACT: press@jbpritzkercampaign.com