{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F7A8C6F5-BF68-4D98-8653-DD2559765088", "Thune Questions TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube Representatives, Pushes for Increased Transparency", "2021-10-26", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, today questioned representatives from TikTok, Snap Inc., and YouTube during a subcommittee hearing titled, \u201cProtecting Kids Online: Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.\u201d Thune expressed deep concern about social media platforms\u2019 use of algorithms and their ability to manipulate users\u2019 experience while online.\n\nThune recently questioned Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen about the dangers of big tech\u2019s use of algorithms. Earlier this year, Thune reintroduced two bipartisan bills, the Platform Accountability and Consumer Transparency (PACT) Act and the Filter Bubble Transparency Act, that would help increase online transparency and accountability.\n\nThune\u2019s opening remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cThank you Chairman Blumenthal and Ranking Member Blackburn for holding today\u2019s hearing.\n\n\u201cWhile social media offers a lot of benefits and opportunities, I have concerns about the lack of transparency online and limited accountability of big tech companies. One of the major problems with social media that has been increasingly concerning is social media platforms\u2019 use of algorithms to shape and manipulate users\u2019 experience resulting in individuals being trapped in the \u201cfilter bubble.\u201d The filter bubble can be particularly troubling for younger users. For example, a recent Wall Street Journal article described in detail how TikTok\u2019s algorithm serves up sex and drug videos to minors.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F7A8C6F5-BF68-4D98-8653-DD2559765088"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9752039331942797, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}