Congressional Rep. Russell Fry Demands Parental Role in Child Social Media Safety Policies

Representative Russell Fry, Republican from South Carolina, has called for increased parental involvement in shaping policies addressing teen social media use during a recent interview.

Fry argued that technology is moving faster than current regulations, leaving parents struggling to keep pace. He introduced his proposed “Kids Internet Safety Partnership” legislation, which aims to bring families into the decision-making process for internet safety measures.

During the discussion, Fry emphasized the need for guardrails on social media platforms for minors and parents alike. “Parents are concerned that they can’t keep up with what’s going on,” he said, noting that children frequently test boundaries and find ways around restrictions.

The representative also highlighted the dangers of unregulated social media, citing cases of sextortion leading to self-harm. Fry stressed that while free speech is important, current platforms pose significant risks to young users.

“We’ve had some congressional hearings on this,” Fry added. “But what I hear from parents in my district is a growing concern about the pace of technology.”

The remarks followed recent legal actions against social media companies, including a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging Instagram’s design encourages addictive behavior among youth. Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in court on Wednesday, challenging claims that the platform targets young users.

Fry asserted that corrective measures must involve both industry stakeholders and parents: “It really is important that social media companies have a seat at the table… and more importantly, parents have a seat at the table so they know what’s going on.”