Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed his apologies to parents whose children suffered harm from social media use during a meeting convened by the US Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee gathered CEOs from major tech companies, such as Meta, TikTok, Snap, Discord, and X, to address concerns regarding the escalating issue of online child sexual exploitation and the adverse impacts of social media on the youth.

Under the scrutiny of senators, Zuckerberg's apology came in response to a question posed by Senator Josh Hawley, who asked if he wished to apologize to the affected parents. In response, Zuckerberg empathetically stated, "I’m sorry for everything you’ve all gone through. It’s terrible. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered."

The meeting featured executives from Meta, TikTok, Discord, X, and Snap, facing inquiries from senators. Parents, holding signs sharing their children's stories, presented images of their children and donned blue ribbons advocating for the "STOP Online Harms! Pass KOSA!" initiative. KOSA, short for the Kids Online Safety Act, was a focal point of discussion during the meeting. This proposed bill, introduced by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn, aims to safeguard minors on social media platforms by stipulating requirements for platforms likely used by minors. These requirements include providing minors with options to safeguard their information, disable addictive features, and opt out of algorithmic recommendations.

Following his apology, Zuckerberg assured the parents that he remains committed to working diligently to prevent others from enduring the suffering experienced by their families. The meeting highlighted the urgency of addressing online safety concerns for minors, emphasizing the significance of legislative measures like KOSA to ensure responsible practices by social media companies.