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| Facebook may need to change the way its News Feed works |
US senators have introduced a bill aimed at tackling addiction to social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
The new bipartisan bill could represent Congress's first step in addressing computer amplification of harmful content.
The NUDGE Act requires the National Science Foundation and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to add additional steps for sharing content online.
The bill calls on researchers to find ways to slow the spread of harmful content and misinformation, whether that requires users to read an article before sharing it or taking any other action.
Then the FTC legislates based on the findings, and when platforms like Facebook and Twitter don't comply, they are held accountable.
Democrats have been searching for solutions to online disinformation for years. Republicans criticized the effort, calling it a threat to free speech.
But after the 2020 testimony against Facebook whistleblower Frances Hoggin, members on both sides began working together to find ways to organize algorithms to tackle children's problems and misinformation.
The NUDGE Act is a step toward a comprehensive solution to the abuse of big technology.
According to the law, the impact of these platform designs and algorithms on society can be understood by allowing the National Science Foundation and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study addiction to social media platforms.
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In March, Representatives Anna Esho and Tom Malinowski introduced the Protect Americans from Unsafe Algorithms Act, which also focuses on strengthening algorithms.
Unlike the NUDGE Act, the suit in the House of Representatives amends Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This is the legal immunity of each platform if it is found to contain enhanced content that infringes on civil liberties.
Removing Article 230 has been the biggest hurdle for lawmakers trying to combat malicious algorithms. Technology and public interest groups support NUDGE.
The Public Knowledge Group said: "We support this legislation because it encourages decisions aimed at combating the spread of misinformation." The bill does so without restricting compliance with Section 230 exceptions.
Speaking about NUDGE, Senator Amy Klobuchar said: “This bill helps combat these practices. It does this by implementing changes that increase transparency and improve the user experience.
Now is the time to directly address the damage social media is doing to our society through meaningful reforms.