YouTube, Snap and TikTok executives take turns answering to Washington

Lawmakers on Tuesday were set to grill executives from YouTube, Snap and TikTok about mounting concerns that their platforms can harm children and teenagers.

A subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee has said the hearing would examine “how tech companies treat young audiences, including how algorithms and product design choices can amplify harms, addiction and intrusions into privacy”.

TikTok is likely to face questions about how its algorithm steers its billion users to content about sex, drugs and violence. YouTube could confront lawmaker concerns about its content policies, including a September decision to ban misinformation about vaccines. And Snap has responded to questions in recent months about drug dealing on its platform.