Republican Supervisors Vote Against Holding Social Media Companies Accountable

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News Date
07/16/24
Description

Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer’s policy to empower its Chief Administrative Office and County Counsel to explore opportunities to file lawsuits against social media companies was blocked by the Republicans on the Board of Supervisors. 

After the policy failed because of the 2-2 vote, Supervisor Lawson-Remer released the following statement:     

“It is important to do everything we can to protect the health and well-being of children, but my colleagues chose to ignore the health impacts of social media on our youth,” said Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, a parent and Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “By seeking out options to take legal action we would be able to hold opportunistic social media companies accountable and push them to change the way they do business. I will be bringing this policy back in August.” 

The policy failed because of a 2-2 vote, so Supervisor Lawson-Remer will bring the policy back to the Board for another vote at the next Board of Supervisors meeting on August 27, 2024. 

Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory warning that social media is contributing to our nation’s youth mental health crisis. The American Psychological Association (APA) has since also issued a health advisory examining the connections between social media use and reduced well-being and rising mood disorders, chiefly depression, and anxiety among youth ages 10 to 25 years old.

The County’s already had success with litigation against gun manufacturers and opioid manufacturers

Read the entire policy here.