Bilirakis Hears Directly from Pasco Youth About Dangers of Cyberbullying & Social Media
New Port Richey, FL: Earlier today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis met with several local teens who serve as leaders of the organization STAND in Pasco County. The lawmaker, who is working on legislation to hold Big Tech accountable for improving safety of youth on its social platforms, solicited input about the teens' experiences with cyberbullying, social media, and the impact that use has had on their mental health and the mental health of their peers.
"These students are remarkable. They're committed to making a positive impact on the lives of others through advocacy and engagement," saidCongressman Bilirakis. "Unfortunately, many of them report having experienced negative impacts to their mental health as a result of their online activities and cyberbullying. Some of the stories they shared were appalling and reinforce my belief that Congress must act swiftly to protect other children. They reported incidence of bullying, harassment, and even blackmail via social media platforms, with no remedy or recourse available to them. Sadly, they also reported that most times, the parents of those involved were unaware of the harmful behavior. I was highly impressed with the students' candor and concern for others. They recognize that this is a problem that warrants immediate attention."
The feedback received aligns with reports Bilirakis recently heard from Pasco County law enforcement leaders. Cybercrime against children is a substantial and growing concern throughout our community. As law enforcement works to investigate these cases and protect children, they have encountered substantial roadblocks from the Big Tech industry. Bilirakis has been working to remove those barriers and has filed the Cooperating Among Police, Tech, and Users to Resist Exploitation (or CAPTURE) which has already received a legislative hearing in the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee. This legislation establishes a foundation to strengthen coordination between law enforcement and Big Tech as the entities work to combat illegal activities on social media platforms.
"Too often we've seen bad actors utilize social media platforms to facilitate crime by luring and exploiting children and other vulnerable populations," Bilirakis added. "We must hold them accountable for doing better."