By WMAL.com
The Office of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Wednesday that it would be joining a coalition of 43 state Attorney Generals in requesting that the social media platforms TikTok and Snapchat provide parents increased oversight on their children’s activities on the platforms.
- What Miyares said: “I am proud to join a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in urging TikTok and Snapchat to put children’s safety first. Unfortunately, predators and bullies can use social media to reach impressionable children without their parents having any idea. Additionally, studies have shown the disastrous impact social media can have on the mental and physical health of our children. Parental control apps would allow parents to ensure their children are staying safe in an increasingly dangerous digital world,” said Attorney General Miyares in a press release issued by his office.
- Harm of social media: the release included a data from one app that analyzed more than 3.4 billion messages in 2021 and found:
- 43.09% of tweens and 74.61% of teens were involved in a self-harm/suicidal situation,
- 68.97% of tweens and 90.73% of teens encountered nudity or content of a sexual nature,
- 75.35% of tweens and 93.31% of teens engaged in conversations surrounding drugs/alcohol,
- 80.82% of tweens and 94.50% of teens expressed or experienced violent subject matter/thoughts, and
- 72.09% of tweens and 85.00% of teens experienced bullying as a bully, victim, or witness.
- Campaign promises: joining the coalition marks another move by the AG’s office to fulfill campaign promises made by both Youngkin and Miyares to bring more rights to parents in the Commonwealth regarding the well-being over their children.
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