All Hat, No Cattle

Congress keeps talking but never acts on Big Tech--But we will.

It’s another encore of the political theater known as the Senate Judiciary Committee. Almost a year to the day after I wrote about their consideration of KOSA (Kids Online Safety Act)—which, of course, never even got a vote in the House—they were back at it again. Same senators, same questions, same recommendations from panelists like my friend, attorney Carrie Goldberg.

The key difference this time? Chuck Grassley’s opening pronouncement:

Meanwhile, these tech platforms generate revenues that dwarf the economies of most nations. How do they make so much money? By compromising our data and privacy, and by keeping our children’s eyes glued to the screens through addictive algorithms.

Indeed, in one recent study, 46% of teens reported that they are online ‘almost constantly.’ This has had severe mental health consequences for adolescents. It has also led to a rise in sexual exploitation, as some algorithms have actually connected victims to their abusers.

Should tech platforms be allowed to profit at the expense of our children’s privacy, safety, and health? Should they be allowed to contribute to a toxic digital ecosystem without being held accountable? I believe the answer is clear. When these platforms fail to implement adequate safety measures, they are complicit in the harm that follows, and they should be held accountable.

It was a fine performance, reminding me of my own day as a panelist in July 2019. And just like back then, when asked how to fix it, Carrie echoed what I said then—and what she’s said countless times since.

If you want to stop the abuses perpetrated by Meta, X, and YouTube, you must lift the shield that protects them from liability. Do that, and this shit stops in a nanosecond.

If I sound like a broken record, it’s because I am. These lawmakers know the problem. They know the solution. They just won’t act—thanks to the deep pockets of the very companies they claim to scrutinize. We can’t give up pounding Congress, even if it feels like Einstein’s definition of insanity. But as we used to say in Texas, they’re all hat and no cattle.

In their minds, putting on a good show in a hearing is tantamount to a fix. They pat themselves on the back, exchange collegial nods, and move on. Meanwhile, nothing changes.

So, we’re shifting focus.

Follow the Money

Legislation is stalled, but there’s another way to hold these platforms accountable: go after their funding—advertisers.

• On social media, kids are dying while brands are buying ads.

• On social media, kids are being exploited while brands are buying ads.

• On social media, antisemitism, hate speech, misinformation, and terrorism are thriving—yet brands are still buying ads.

• And in my case, ads were scrolling at the bottom of the video of Alison’s murder, adding insult to cruelty.

The real path to change isn’t pleading with Congress—it’s following the money. That means targeting the corporations that fuel this toxic ecosystem by purchasing ads, driving up revenue, inflating stock prices, and boosting dividends—while exposing this vile symbiotic relationship for what it is.

So, to Chuck Grassley, I say: Yes, these platforms should be held accountable. But I’m not holding my breath for you to make it happen. That’s why I, along with several other stakeholders—including parents involved with KOSA—am taking a different approach.

Writing a Substack essay is one thing and I’ve done it on this subject adnauseum. Taking action is another. We’re forming an alliance to go after advertisers on social media. It’s called HARM—Harnessing Awareness for Responsible Media.

Because at the end of the day, it’s all about the money. And we’re going to follow it.

Stay tuned. We’re about to release the hounds.

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