5 things you need to know about nick bilton's latest exposé
- The former New York Times tech columnist just dropped a bombshell report detailing how social media algorithms are specifically targeting children with predatory content, using internal documents from a major tech company.
- Bilton's investigation reveals that platforms knowingly allowed "rabbit holes" of harmful material to appear in kids' recommended feeds, despite having internal warnings about the psychological damage it causes.
- He obtained leaked whistleblower emails showing executives rejected a proposed AI filter that could have blocked 90% of dangerous content, citing that it would reduce "user engagement metrics."
- The report includes a specific case study of a 13-year-old who was algorithmically guided toward self-harm content within 45 minutes of creating a new account, directly linking to Bilton's previous research on digital addiction.
- Bilton ends the piece with a call to action for Congress to enforce the Kids Online Safety Act immediately, claiming that "tech companies have proven they will not self-regulate" and that his findings represent only "the tip of the iceberg."