Legislation
Contact your US House Representatives today and ask them to support the #TakeItDown Act
- RAINN's summary: Criminalizes Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII) and Threats to Publish It. The bill makes it a federal crime to knowingly publish or threaten to publish non-consensual intimate imagery on online platforms. It explicitly includes realistic, computer-generated intimate images depicting identifiable individuals. The bill clarifies that consent to create an image does not equate to consent for its publication.
- Mandates Swift Removal of NCII. The bill will require platforms to remove NCII within 48 hours of a victim’s valid request and to take reasonable steps to delete duplicate content. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to enforce these requirements that hold platforms accountable.
- Protects Victims Through Good Faith Actions. The legislation safeguards those who disclose NCII in good faith, such as to law enforcement or for medical purposes.
- Safeguards Free Speech. The bill is narrowly designed to criminalize only the knowing publication of NCII, ensuring lawful speech remains protected. It adheres to First Amendment standards by requiring computer-generated NCII to pass a “reasonable person” test for realistic depiction.
A clear stance against exploitation: TAKE IT DOWN empowers survivors, holds offenders accountable, and ensures online platforms take responsibility. Over 120 organizations support #TakeItDown
Parent/Caregiver Strategies to Reduce Social Media Harms
Learn about online harms that children/teens face 24/7, check out Fairplay's Online Harms Prevention Action Kit
- Dr Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and author of "The Anxious Generation and Dr. Jean Twenge, a research psychologist and author of the books, iGen and Generations, have made recommendations to help parents and caregivers help their kids.
- No Smartphones Before High School. Invest in cell phones/watches with talk and text capability only.
- No social media before 16. Teens/tweens want to use social media platforms because their friends are using them. If parents and caregivers unite and discourage social media use for all kids under 16, peer pressure to use these platforms will be reduced.
- Phone‐free schools. Cell phones are disruptive to the educational environment and can be disruptive during an emergency. More information and resources are available through the Phone-Free Schools Movement. The National School Safety and Security Services recommends that school administrators and crisis team members have cell phones, but student use of cell phones can lead to telephone systems overload, unintentional spread of misinformation (rumors) and possible delays in school evacuations and other emergency responses.
- Request schools and after-school activity coordinators not to use social media platforms for school announcements (including extra curricular activities), teacher homework assignments, etc.
- No Cell Phones in Bedrooms to promote sleep. Adequate sleep is essential to teen's mental health. Removing distractions that keep them awake can help.
Online is "Real Life."
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About Social Media Harms
Our Vision
The mission of Social Media Harms is spread awareness regarding online harms and to promote U.S. state & federal regulations that require technology companies to design products with the highest possible privacy and safety features by default.