Facebook, Google CEOs Blasted in Congress Over Apps for Kids
- Tech giants are asked about harmful effects of their services
- Lawmakers vowed to legislate, but offered scant details
The YouTube Kids application.
Photographer: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Facebook Inc. and Google came under fire at a congressional hearing for the impact their social media services have on children, with lawmakers zeroing in on Facebook’s plan for a new app for kids and YouTube’s feature that serves up a continuous stream of videos.
At a hearing focused on disinformation and extremism, lawmakers pressed Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc. and Google, which owns YouTube, to answer questions about whether their products are designed to keep kids addicted and pose a threat to their well-being.