Mark Zuckerberg apologizes at US Senate hearing that discussed the impact social media has on children

Under encouragement from Republican Senator Josh Hawley, Mark Zuckerberg stood up and addressed families holding photos of their children who they said had been harmed by social media.

Meta CEO Zuckerberg apologizes to parents at US Senate social media hearing https://t.co/vt2WPml7xA pic.twitter.com/bBkpbY3NvK

- CNA (@ChannelNewsAsia) January 31, 2024

At the start of the hearing, the committee played a video in which children talked about being bullied on social media platforms. Senators told stories of young people who took their own lives after being extorted for money for sharing photos with sexual predators.

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“Do you likearia now to apologize to the victims who were harmed by your product?” Hawley asked, noting that the hearing was being broadcast live on television.

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Zuckerberg addressed the families. “I'm sorry for everything you've been through. No one should have to go through the things their families have suffered and that is why we have invested so much and will continue to make industry-wide efforts to ensure no one has to go through the things their families have had to suffer,” he said.

Hawley aggressively criticized the head of Meta during a controversial exchange. “Your product is killing people,” Hawley told Zuckerberg, whose company owns social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.

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