'It killed him': Families of victims of big tech, present at Senate hearing, share their stories

Chief executives of the top social media companies went before Congress Wednesday to answer questions about online child exploitation.

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, called "Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis," addressed heads of Meta, TikTok, Snap, Discord and X on the harmful effects of social media use on America's youth.

Nearly 95% of teenagers between 13 and 17 report using social media, according to a U.S. Surgeon General advisory released last year. While the report found some benefits of social media among youth, it also found "ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm" to the mental health and well-being of children and that tech companies should be held accountable.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other tech leaders argued that they are, in fact, pursuing protective measures to insulate children and teens on their platforms, but there were child advocates and parents in the crowd who strongly disagree.

ParentsTogether, a nonprofit organization providing independent reporting and commentary on issues that affect kids and families, told USA TODAY that Wednesday's hearing "made clear that no one – from parents to Congress – should buy the lies that these tech companies are selling."

"What almost every parent knows is that social media is hurting, and in the most tragic cases, killing our children," Shelby Knox, Campaign Director at ParentsTogether said Wednesday.

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Families who have lost children, speak out

Among those present at Wednesday's hearing were five families who say their children were victims of predators facilitated by social media.

Olivia Prodromidis, 15

“My daughter Olivia is forever 15-years-old because Snapchat connected her with an adult stranger who exploited and took advantage of her," Despina Prodromidis, Mother of Olivia, wrote. "He then convinced her to take a pill which turned out to be pure fentanyl. Snapchat continues to connect kids to adult criminals and drugs. They have failed to stop this themselves; it’s time for Congress to act.” 

Matthew Minor, 12

“TikTok showed my 12-year-old son Matthew a video of the 'choking challenge,' which falsely claims kids can safely choke themselves," Todd Minor, father of Matthew wrote. "He tried it, and it killed him. TikTok and other platforms have enabled this deadly viral video to circulate for more than a decade, resulting in hundreds of deaths like Matthew’s. Congress must hold these companies accountable for the lives they have ended and destroyed.”

Riley Rodee, 15

“My son Riley was 15 when a predator used Facebook to find him, coerce him with inappropriate images, and trick him into sending explicit photos of himself," Mary Rodee, mother of Riley wrote. "He immediately began to extort Riley for money. The ease and aggression with which he used Facebook’s tools was overwhelming. Just 6 hours after Riley was blackmailed on Facebook, he died from suicide. Meta has shown they can’t fix their platform on their own – it's time to make them.”

Mariam Radwan, 15

“The algorithms that drive Instagram and TikTok nearly killed my daughter Mariam. Curious about healthy eating, social media sucked her into a black hole of dangerous content like how to eat less than 500 cals a day or challenges to prove extreme thinness," Neveen Radwan, mother of Mariam wrote.

"She spent all four years of high school in and out of hospitals, went into cardiac arrest, and was confined to a wheelchair because of the eating disorder social media triggered. TikTok and Instagram made a lot of money off her pain. No child or family should lose years of their life so a company can profit.” 

Jazmine Hernandez, 13

“Jazmine was the victim of vicious, racist cyberbullying on Instagram," LaQuanta Hernandez, mother of Jazmine wrote. "Her bullies sent her racist comments and threats, and even photoshopped her head onto Emmit Till’s body. I reported the content to Instagram several times, but they refused to remove it for days. It was terrifying. I was so angry that Instagram wouldn’t take down death threats against a little girl. They make it so easy for anyone to harass, bully, and abuse kids on their platform. They must be held accountable.”

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Zuckerberg apologizes to families

During his questioning of Zuckerberg at Wednesday's hearing, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri asked the Meta CEO, "Have you apologized to the victims? Would you like to do so now? … They're here. You're on national television."

Zuckerberg got out of his chair and turned and faced the crowd in attendance. “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through,” he said.

"No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invested so much and are going to continue doing industry-leading efforts to make sure that no one has to go through the types of things that your families had to suffer,” Zuckerberg said, and then sat back down.

"You and the companies before us, I know you don't mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said to Zuckerberg at the hearing.

Mike Snider contributed to this reporting.