Kalamazoo Times

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) joined a bipartisan coalition urging TikTok and Snapchat to give parents greater influence over the social media experience of their children, according to a press release on the state's government website.

Attorney generals from 44 states joined the coalition to promote parental control apps on social media in order to protect their children from online threats, and the ability of parents to monitor what their children do on social media. The coalition is led by Attorneys General Lynn Fitch (R-Miss.) and Josh Stein (D-NC).

"I remain very concerned about social media's impact on the mental and physical health of young people," Nessel said. "We live in a time when everything is shared on social media. Not only does that foster a comparison culture in which our kids are constantly exposed to unrealistic beauty standards, it also exposes them to the hateful rhetoric spewed by those who hide behind keyboards. I will continue to join efforts with my colleagues across the country aimed at protecting kids online."

Prior to joining this movement, Nessel supported investigations into TikTok and Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook. She firmly believes that Instagram should not start a platform specifically for children under 13.

As reported in the press release, according to a 2021 study that analyzed 3.4 billion messages, 43% of tweens and 75% of teens were engaged in self-harm or a suicidal situation, and 69% of tweens and 91% of teens saw nudity or content of a sexual nature. In addition, 75% of tweens and 93% of teens participated in conversations pertaining to drugs or alcohol, and 81% of tweens and 95% of teens expressed or experienced violent subject matter or thoughts. Finally, 72% of tweens and 85% of teens encountered bullying as a bully, victim, or witness.