Arkansas A.G. to Host Free Social Media Summit in October

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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin will host a free social media summit in October.

In an announcement on Facebook, Attorney General Griffin said the summit will look at social media addiction as well as dangers from scams and foreign adversaries such as China.

Around the country, state legislators have recognized that social media can be hazardous for teens. These platforms rely on specialized algorithms to suggest content to users. As users look at social media content, the algorithms make a point to recommend similar material in the future — a process sometimes called “rabbit holing.”

If users view inappropriate or harmful material on social media, the algorithm will suggest similar content in the future. As a result, social media platforms like TikTok often serve teens what some have called a steady “diet of darkness.”

In 2023 the Arkansas Attorney General’s office filed two lawsuits against Chinese-based company ByteDance — the corporation that owns TikTok — and one lawsuit against Meta — the company that owns Facebook and Instagram.

The lawsuits highlight how the platforms jeopardize users’ personal data and “exploit human psychology and foster addiction to maximize users’ screen time.”

As we have said for years, social media platforms are more than just websites or phone apps. These are multimillion-dollar businesses. The people who own and profit from these companies have a responsibility to protect their users.

Family Council is not aware of any attorney general in America who is doing more to hold social media giants accountable than Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. Registration details about the A.G.’s social media summit are available here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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A.G.’s Lawsuit Against TikTok Can Continue: Arkansas Supreme Court

Social Media,

Last week the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that Attorney General Tim Griffin’s lawsuit against social media giant TikTok can move forward.

In March of 2023 the Arkansas Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against Chinese-based company ByteDance — the corporation that owns TikTok — in Cleburne County Circuit Court.

With upwards of a billion users worldwide — including somewhere between 135 and 170 million in the U.S. — TikTok is among the most popular social media outlets on earth.

But TikTok isn’t just a phone app. It’s a major corporation, and its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, has been valued at $300 billion.

However, TikTok has found itself embroiled in controversy for struggling to protect private user data from entities in China — including the Chinese Communist Party.

The platform also has been accused of serving users a steady “diet of darkness” and violating laws intended to protect children online.

Attorney General Griffin’s lawsuit alleges TikTok violated Arkansas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act by falsely claiming that graphic and mature content on its platform is appropriate for teens. The lawsuit also calls the TikTok app “a Chinese ‘Trojan Horse’ unleashed on unsuspecting American consumers.”

Attorneys for TikTok have worked relentlessly to have the lawsuit dismissed, but last Thursday the Arkansas Supreme Court declined to put the case on hold — meaning the A.G.’s office is free to pursue it.

As we keep saying, social media platforms are not just websites or phone apps. These are major corporations owned and operated by investors and other interests. If the Chinese Communist Party can influence TikTok, the CCP may be able to manipulate content, influence users, and harvest data on one of the world’s largest social media platforms. That’s a serious concern, and we appreciate Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin taking a firm stand in court.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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