Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
The Biden administration on Monday released a set of recommendations for the tech industry to better protect kids online.
Why it matters: In the absence of Congress passing new laws, the government can apply pressure on platforms by setting standards and recommending actions.
- The FTC has enforced laws on the books to penalize companies and protect kids online, but advocates say new laws are needed to change the way platforms are designed.
Driving the news: White House and administration officials held a roundtable discussion with youth advocates on Monday following the release of the Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force's report.
There are 10 recommendations that industry could take on now, officials said, including designing age-appropriate experiences, making privacy protections for youth the default and limiting features that encourage excessive or problematic use.
- The report also calls for companies to limit likes and social comparison features, improve systems to address bias and discrimination and make platform data accessible to researchers.
The report lays out a prospective research agenda for industry and academia, including studying mental health impacts and the effects of ubiquitous computer use in schools.
- The report also calls on Congress to "enact federal legislation to protect youth health, safety, and privacy online."
What they're saying: White House Gender Policy Council Director Jennifer Klein highlighted the disproportionate impact on girls and LGBTQ+ youth "who are harmed, in many cases, more severely by online harassment and abuse."
