How liberal and conservative senators are uniting against Instagram

<p>Instagram’s potential harm to children has united a liberal Democrat from the Northeast, Richard Blumenthal and a hard-right conservative Republican from the South, Marsha Blackburn.</p><p>As the top Democrat and the top Republican on the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, the two have <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/26/instagram-and-social-media-danger-teens-unites-politicians/8422422002/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">joined forces</a> to go after one of the most powerful forces on earth: Big Tech. Any legislation that carries both their support will be seriously considered given their committee leadership and divergent political backgrounds.</p><p>Host Claire Thornton is joined by USA TODAY Congressional reporters <a href="https://twitter.com/MabintyQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mabinty Quarshie</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/LedgeKing?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ledyard King</a> to discuss what how lawmakers are joining forces&nbsp;to try to strengthen privacy laws around social media and protect young users.</p><p>Podcast transcript <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2021/10/31/instagrams-harm-teens-creates-rare-bipartisan-momentum-congress/6218557001/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linked here</a>.</p><p>Also available at <a href="https://art19.com/shows/5-things" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">art19.com/shows/5-Things</a>.</p><p>Additional reading:</p><p><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/26/instagram-and-social-media-danger-teens-unites-politicians/8422422002/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram's dangers to children unite liberal and conservative lawmakers who agree on little else</a></p><p><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/10/20/facebook-plans-rebrand-new-company-name-report-says