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U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Ala., issued a statement condemning TikTok following an NPR article that revealed the platform’s internal communications showing a blatant disregard for the mental health of young users.
“There is no doubt that our nation’s growing mental health crisis is inextricably tied to the rise of social media usage by children and teenagers,” Britt said. She emphasized the need for action against social media companies like TikTok, accusing them of exploiting adolescents for profit while neglecting the dangers their platforms pose. “The revelations in these internal documents are disgusting,” she added. “This reporting is further proof Congress must act to protect the wellbeing of America’s kids because Big Tech prioritizes profits over people.”
The NPR article in question exposed portions of a lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, as part of a broader investigation by attorneys general from 14 states. The lawsuit underscores TikTok’s awareness of the addictive nature of its platform, showing that users can become addicted in just 35 minutes. The platform’s internal research also revealed that prolonged use could lead to severe mental health issues, including anxiety and loss of empathy.
Britt has made the protection of adolescents from harmful social media effects a key part of her legislative efforts. In May, she co-sponsored the Kids Off Social Media Act, with a bipartisan group of senators, including Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, aiming to restrict social media use among minors. Additionally, Britt supported the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which passed the Senate this summer. Last month, she also co-introduced the Stop the Scroll Act, with Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., which would require mental health warning labels on social media platforms, following the Surgeon General’s recommendations.
Britt is also working on long-term solutions for youth mental health. She co-sponsored the Youth Mental Health Research Act, with Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., aiming to establish a national research initiative to improve mental health treatments and preventive measures for young people. Earlier this year, Britt voted to pass a supplemental national security bill, which included provisions forcing TikTok’s divestiture from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
