Meta, Google, and other major technology companies have partnered with Sesame Workshop and Girl Scouts of the USA to launch initiatives promoting 'responsible' screen time for children. The collaborations, announced in recent months, aim to counter growing regulatory scrutiny over the impact of digital platforms on young users. Programs include digital literacy curricula, parental controls, and public awareness campaigns, with funding from tech firms 1.
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, has received funding from Meta to develop a digital literacy curriculum for preschoolers. The program, titled 'Little Children, Big Challenges: Media Literacy,' is designed to teach young children how to navigate digital content safely. Meta’s involvement was confirmed in a press release dated May 2024, which stated the company provided an undisclosed grant to support the initiative 1.
Girl Scouts of the USA has partnered with Google to launch a series of badges focused on digital citizenship and online safety. The badges, introduced in March 2024, are part of Google’s 'Be Internet Awesome' program, which aims to educate children aged 7-12 about privacy, cyberbullying, and critical thinking online. Google’s public relations team described the collaboration as part of its broader effort to 'empower the next generation of digital citizens' 1.
The partnerships come as Big Tech faces increasing pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups over children’s screen time. In the U.S., the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), introduced in 2023, seeks to impose stricter regulations on platforms frequented by minors. Similar legislation is under consideration in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Tech companies have lobbied against these measures, arguing they would stifle innovation and limit access to educational content 1.
Critics argue the collaborations are a public relations tactic to deflect criticism rather than address systemic issues. Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay, a nonprofit advocating for children’s digital rights, stated, 'These partnerships allow Big Tech to frame the conversation around 'responsible use' while avoiding meaningful changes to their algorithms, which are designed to maximize engagement and profit' 1. Fairplay has called for stricter enforcement of existing privacy laws, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Sesame Workshop’s curriculum includes interactive videos and activities featuring Sesame Street characters like Elmo and Big Bird. The content is distributed through the nonprofit’s website and partner platforms, including YouTube Kids. Meta’s funding was part of a broader $100 million commitment announced in 2023 to support 'digital well-being' initiatives, though the company did not disclose how much was allocated to Sesame Workshop 1.
Google’s 'Be Internet Awesome' program has reached over 30 million children globally since its launch in 2017, according to the company’s internal reports. The Girl Scouts partnership expands the program’s reach by integrating it into troop activities and merit badges. Google has also funded research at Stanford University to study the effectiveness of digital literacy programs, though the findings have not been made public 1.
Regulatory scrutiny has intensified following revelations about the impact of social media on youth mental health. Internal documents from Meta, leaked in 2021, showed the company was aware of the harms of Instagram on teenage girls’ self-esteem but failed to act. In response, Meta introduced features like 'Take a Break' and 'Quiet Mode' to encourage healthier usage patterns, though critics argue these measures are insufficient 1.