<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>

On a June night in 2020, Carson Bride and his family celebrated his new job. By the next morning, he had taken his own life. Later, his mother found out the teenager had received hundreds of abusiveInsulting, offensive or cruel. messages online.

This week, Carson's mother went to the US SenateThe upper chamber of the Congress that - along with the US House of Representatives (lower chamber) - comprises the legislative branch of the US government. Each of the 50 US states is equally represented by two senators, regardless of its population size.. She wanted to hear tech bosses speak about allegationsClaims of wrongdoing. of harms to children online.

Critics say bosses at Meta, X, TikTok, Snap and Discord are not doing enough to protect children from the dangers they face online.

Lawmakers in the USA are discussing a new law that could restrictPut a limit on. what children might see online and monitorWatch over. online activity.

Others have different suggestions, including a rating system for all online material, or new rules for the algorithmAny set of rules followed by a computer. In the context of social media, "the algorithm" refers to the intelligent AI that learns the interests of the user and presents them with posts that it thinks will interest them. that shows children more and more extreme content to catch their attention.

American teenagers spend most of their waking hours on the internet. Children under 13 already spend more than five hours online every day.

But there are upsides too. Teenagers also say that social media helps them to talk to their friends, be creative and feel accepted by others.

Does social media do more good than harm?

<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more </h2>

Yes! Social media helps us to connect to lots of other people and share facts and ideas. There is almost nothing in the world that does not have upsides and downsides.

No! The risks are just too big. It is almost impossible to make the internet completely safe for children. Social media has changed life for the worse.

Abusive - Insulting, offensive or cruel.

Senate - The upper chamber of the Congress that - along with the US House of Representatives (lower chamber) - comprises the legislative branch of the US government. Each of the 50 US states is equally represented by two senators, regardless of its population size.

Allegations - Claims of wrongdoing.

Restrict - Put a limit on.

Monitor - Watch over.

Algorithm - Any set of rules followed by a computer. In the context of social media, "the algorithm" refers to the intelligent AI that learns the interests of the user and presents them with posts that it thinks will interest them.