To find solutions to the harmful effects of social media, we need a way to look under the hood of these powerful platforms. Despite the immense power these companies wield, we know very little about how social media companies collect and use our data, how the underlying algorithms work, and how they shape the user experience online. In short, they are intentionally keeping lawmakers and the American public in the dark.
We’re shedding light on an industry that, for too long, has operated in secrecy and told us to blindly trust in their stewardship of these all-powerful technologies. This is why the Council for Responsible Social Media has formally endorsed the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act that would create a framework for independent, vetted researchers to analyze the design and operations of the major social media platforms.
Op-ed by Council for Responsible Social Media Legislative Associate Jamie Neikrie...
Op-ed by Council for Responsible Social Media member Emma Lembke...
Analysis
Meta, ByteDance, and others expanded their influence operations during the first quarter of 2024...
A new Issue One analysis of recently filed federal lobbying reports show that several social media titans poured massive sums of money into their influence operations in Washington, D.C., during…
In the media
New Issue One analysis on social media lobbying spending cited...
Press releases
As social media executives prepare to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday about how their companies are failing to protect children on their platforms, federal lobbying filings show…
Analysis
Meta, ByteDance, X, Snap, and Discord combined to spend a staggering $30 million on lobbying last year — and employed one lobbyist for roughly every four members of Congress...
As social media executives prepare to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday about how their companies are failing to protect children on their platforms, federal lobbying filings show…
Press releases
Social media companies remain largely unchecked and free of any liability from the harm they cause...
Today Issue One and its Council for Responsible Social Media (CRSM) released “Dangerous by Design,” a new report underscoring the widespread and ongoing threats and harms that social media companies…
Reports
How Social Media Companies Are Hurting Our Kids, National Security, and Democracy — and What We Can Do About It...
Editor’s note: The following is the executive summary of “Dangerous by Design.” Read the full report. Introduction Americans of all political persuasions are right to be concerned about unchecked social…
Press releases
By bravely coming forward, Arturo Bejar has once again demonstrated that Meta Intentionally and knowingly puts profits over kids' safety, and why Congress must hold them accountable...
Last night, former Facebook Engineering Director Arturo Bejar revealed internal documents and decision points to the Wall Street Journal demonstrating that, once again, the tech giant has ignored the wellbeing…
Press releases
Today, the Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously to advance the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), setting the stage for a vote before the full Senate. Issue One applauds this critical…
Press releases
With a Commerce Committee markup set for this week, the bipartisan and multistakeholder Council urges lawmakers to advance KOSA and protect the safety of children online...
Today, Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media endorsed the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and called on members of the Senate Commerce Committee to adopt responsible social media…
Press releases
Today, Issue One and its Council for Responsible Social Media are calling on Congress to holistically address the social media crisis by enacting responsible safeguards and setting the same government…
