SR0249 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0249 LRB103 32238 ECR 61446 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The federal government has an obligation to protect the State's children from online bad actors; and

WHEREAS, Too often, minors suffer grave consequences from deceptive marketing practices found on social media; and

WHEREAS, Social media algorithms have been revealed to prioritize prolonged engagement and attention in order to generate profits; and

WHEREAS, This prioritization often encourages users to engage in harmful, addictive, controversial, and negative content; and

WHEREAS, Research has revealed that excessive social media use can result in negative effects on mental health, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, and loneliness; and

WHEREAS, Children or minors are most susceptible to these negative effects due to their limited life experiences and developing brains; and

WHEREAS, Children may not fully understand the consequences of their interactions with social media platforms, and companies should not be enabled to take advantage of a child's lack of understanding for potential profit; and

WHEREAS, The federal government has a duty to ensure that minors are protected from deceptive and harmful algorithms that are deliberately designed to incite negative reactions and build addictive behavior; and

WHEREAS, The federal government has ample historical legal precedent that has established it is a company's responsibility to protect children from known deceptive and harmful advertising; and

WHEREAS, Social media companies should be held to the same standard as other companies regarding the utilization of harmful advertising and tactics that target minors; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the federal government to uphold its duty to create regulations that promote the well-being of minors and to protect them from negative and harmful social media algorithms.