TikTok’s Big Tobacco Era

The discussion centers on whether big tech companies are following a similar path to big tobacco in terms of prioritizing profits over safety, particularly concerning children's mental health. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torres share their perspectives on the addictive nature of social media platforms and the potential harms they pose to young users. Bonta highlights internal documents revealing that social media platforms are aware of the mental health harms caused by features like infinite scroll and autoplay, yet continue to target children. Torres recounts an undercover operation exposing predatory behavior on Meta's platforms, where an account posing as an underage girl was inundated with solicitations for graphic material. Both attorneys general express concern over federal preemption that could limit states' ability to regulate these platforms and protect their citizens.