Parents want to protect kids online. Here’s what they are asking social media bosses. 

Parents all over the world are struggling with a threat that lives inside their own homes: how to protect their kids online. Unaccountable social media companies pull every trick to keep kids addicted to their platforms, with eyes glued to screens, at the expense of their mental health and wellbeing. 

This fight against the power of a multi-billion-dollar industry can seem almost impossible, but parents are not alone. To amplify their voices, CCDH interviewed parents on the streets of Washington DC and London, and by email. 

Watch the full video here and read their stories below: 

They told us how they really feel about their kids being on social media: 

“I have two girls, and social media is full of dangerous body image content. It spreads so fast that it is hard to know what my kids would see. It doesn’t take much to spark something to take them down the rabbit hole. There’s good stuff too – I follow brilliant people – but it’s not worth the risk.” 

“Sure, I’m worried about my kids on social media. I’m always asking what they are doing, I talk to them about their experiences, I discuss with them what they saw.” 

“There’s so much going on with people pretending to be children and it’s just, you just don’t know.” 

“I just think it’s not healthy for kids’ mental health. And it’s out of parents’ control.” 

“My daughter, 19, is an insecure wreck. She spends hours in bed scrolling on her phone distracted 100% of the time… [They’re becoming] slaves to the scroll. [It’s a] zombie life, stifling any creativity they might have with some headspace. Causing constant conflict and arguments. We’ve lost our children. We have no control.” 

“As an educator, it is increasingly difficult to counter the misinformation that young people think is ‘news’. Even when factual evidence can show that the Facebook post they are quoting is wrong, unfounded or intended to misguide, it is easier for a young person to dismiss the truth and maintain the lie.”

They told us what they thought when they heard that Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, said “the lifetime value of a 13 y/o teen is roughly $270”, according to an internal email leaked by a lawsuit that 41 state attorneys general brought against the company. 

“It doesn’t surprise me. It’s insulting to have a massive company like that using our kids. But am I going to stop using it? It’s a hard question. Things can go wrong – and kids are our future, we have to be careful.” 

“It is cynical of tech companies to put a price on the value of their punters. But then again, the business model is based on making an addictive product or service that draws out the raw materials, namely our information, from users who cannot stop giving.” 

“Meta has shown themselves over and over again to be uninterested and unwilling to take responsibility for their creations. I don’t think any large corporation truly cares about the harms they cause unless it affects their bottom line.” 

They told us what they would tell social media bosses if they had a chance: 

“There are plenty of ways to make these platforms safer that probably wouldn’t cost them much. And even if they did, it would still be the right thing to do.” 

“They’re not looking out for the interests of children. And I think that they need to be held a bit more accountable for their actions and their implications for kids.” 

“Employ more people to watch every little thing that’s going on there.” 

“The purpose [of social media platforms] is not clear. What is the final purpose for people and society?” 

“Don’t allow everything for profit, I’m sure you have children.” 

“When newspapers, radio broadcasters and television companies publish or broadcast anything illegal, they are held accountable and must retract it and apologize or face prosecution. This, at least, should apply to all social media companies, and the tech companies which provide the tools to access online content.” 

Parents are not alone. Every parent we spoke to said that they worry about protecting kids online. Governments, lawmakers, and social media bosses must respond to the unified voices calling for a better and safer online space for children.  

A safer space includes an internet where user safety and well-being are priorities, transparency is non-negotiable, and social media companies are accountable and responsible to users and democratic bodies – as CCDH’s STAR Framework proposes. 

It’s time to protect kids online. While lawmakers keep lagging in protecting kids online, you can download our free Parents Guide to help you navigate the internet with your kids. 

Want to support our efforts to hold social media companies accountable? Donate to CCDH.