New report urges legislation to address addictive social media algorithms harming children

 BRIANNA KRAEMER

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has advised lawmakers to take action against addictive social media algorithms that officials say are harming youth mental health across the state.

The Child Fatality Task Force released its 2025 annual report this week, offering recommendations on how the governor and the General Assembly can create policies they say will save lives. The report offers 11 recommendations that address a range of issues that threaten child health and safety, including teens spending an average of 3.5 hours per day on social media.

“Frequent social media use may be associated with changes in the developing brain,” the report reads. “Youth who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of poor mental health.”

According to DHHS, one-quarter of adolescents perceive that they are “moderately” or “severely” addicted to social media. Data shows 78% of 13- to 17-year-olds report check their devices hourly and 46% check almost constantly (compared to 24% in 2018).

Social media use can interfere with sleep, and poor sleep is linked to physical and mental health issues, risky behaviors, poor school performance, and altered brain development. Many experts and national organizations are expressing concern and issuing advisories about the impact of social media on youth mental health.

“Children and adolescents on social media are commonly exposed to extreme, inappropriate, and harmful content, and those who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media face double the risk of poor mental health including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety,” stated a US Surgeon General’s Advisory.

House Bill 644 was introduced in 2023 to combat social media addiction. Though it had bipartisan support, it failed to garner substantial action in the House.

Other proposals include more spending to increase the number of school nurses, social workers, counselors, and psychologists. To address firearm safety, the DHHS officials call for recurring funding of $2.16 million for the NC S.A.F.E. Campaign, which educates the public about safe firearm storage. In his previous role as North Carolina’s attorney general, Stein targeted social media platforms multiple times.

In 2024, Stein joined 12 other states in suing TikTok, alleging it was purposely designed to keep children addicted. In October 2023, Stein and more than 40 other bipartisan attorneys sued Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, alleging a similar claim that the platforms were purposefully designed to be addictive to children.

While the report endorses legislation targeting addictive social media algorithms, officials provide additional recommendations to address youth suicide, promote mental health, and prevent firearm deaths and injuries among children. 

The full list of legislative recommendations from the Child Fatality Task Force are:

• Raise the legal age for tobacco product sales from 18 to 21 and require licensing for retailers.
• Prevent child access to intoxicating cannabis by regulating sales, packaging, and retailer permits.
• Increase investment in early child care, including child care subsidies.
• Fund more school nurses, social workers, counselors, and psychologists.
• Address addictive algorithms in social media that harm children.
• Provide $2.16 million for the NC S.A.F.E. firearm safe storage campaign.
• Strengthen firearm storage laws to protect minors.
• Funding to prevent sleep-related infant deaths.
• Fund Medicaid reimbursement for doula services throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
• Legislation for Fetal and Infant Mortality Reviews (FIMR).

Update child passenger safety laws to reflect best practices.

NCGA_2025-CFTF-Annual-Report-Web-FinalDownload

Kentucky Man Sentenced for Sexually Exploiting Minors in the Philippines

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A Kentucky man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in the Philippines.

According to court documents, from February 2021 through November 2021, while living in the Philippines, Robert Maxwell Werner, 46, of Walton, purchased access from a Filipino individual to dozens of minor victims for in-person, livestreamed, and recorded sexual acts. For several months, Werner paid this individual for custom-created CSAM, in which the individual would sexually abuse these minors and force the minors to engage in sexual acts together for foreign customers like Werner. Werner also paid the individual for five in‑person meetings with minors at hotels and rental properties in the Philippines. During those meetings, Werner sexually abused multiple minors. In exchange, Werner would provide money, food, clothing, and basic necessities for the minors, who lived in desperate circumstances.

As part of his plea agreement, Werner admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conduct with at least one minor for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct between July 2021 and November 2021, while in the Philippines. Werner further admitted to transporting that sexually explicit material into the United States. Additionally, once he returned to the United States, Werner continued to solicit CSAM from the individual for at least another month.

Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Paul McCaffrey for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

ANDERSON, S.C. — Tyler Michael Berlick, 36, of Muskego, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production of child sexual abuse materials*.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Berlick met a girl he believed to be 13 years old located in Greenville, South Carolina in an online game. He sent the child sexually explicit messages and produced sexual abuse materials of the child over the internet. Berlick also traveled from Wisconsin to South Carolina and engaged in sexual activity with the child and then traveled with the minor to Florida and further engaged in sexual activity with the child. 

“This defendant targeted and exploited someone he knew was a child, and this sentence reflects magnitude of such an offense,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “This child was brought home safely due to law enforcement coordination across multiple states. Our office will continue to bring every resource we have to bear in the fight to keep our child safe from predators like this.”

"The FBI is steadfast in its commitment to combating violent crime, especially cases involving the exploitation of children," said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office. "This defendant, preyed on a child, and he is now facing justice. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will always prioritize safeguarding children and pursuing those who pose a threat to their safety."

United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Berlick to 360 months imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia field office, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Miami Field Office, the Latana Police Department (Florida), the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) and the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department (Wisconsin). Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Marosek is prosecuting the case.

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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages use of the phrase “child pornography.”

Police Arrest Santa Clara Teacher For Having An Inappropriate Relationship With A Student

David Alexander

POSTED 11:00 AM, February 19, 2025 | UPDATED AT 09:33 AM, February 20, 2025

Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police have arrested Darrin Garcia, a former teacher and current athletic director at SCUSD for alleged sex with a minor.

A former Santa Clara High School teacher and “well-known” coach stands accused of having sex with a student.

Darrin Garcia, 53, has been an athletic director in the Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) since 2022, according to SCUSD. Prior to that role, Garcia was a gym and health teacher at Santa Clara High School, where he also coached track.

He has also been a sports mentor across the county.

On Feb. 12, Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police nabbed Garcia at Kathleen McDonald High School in San Jose where he works, charging him with statutory rape.

“These are extremely serious charges. The safety and security of our students are our top priorities,” SCUSD officials wrote in a statement. “Our priorities of student safety and well-being will continue to guide our actions.”

Police executed the warrant after they received a report alleging that Garcia had a sexual relationship with a student from 2021 to 2023 while teaching at Santa Clara High School, according to police.

In an email exchange, Sgt. Katherine Mann, with Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police, wrote that Garcia no longer lives in Los Gatos, where he allegedly had sex with the girl.

The investigation continues, Mann wrote, with detectives scouring Garcia’s electronic devices and conducting follow-up. She wrote that she does not know whether there are more victims.

Garcia is a father of two, according to a 2016 article in The Roar, the Santa Clara High School student news website. At the time of the article, his son was 11, and his daughter was 13, making them in their twenties. He has taught at Lynbrook High School in San Jose and Saratoga High School in Saratoga, according to the article.

SCUSD has placed Garcia on administrative leave, according to the school district’s statement. The school district conducts background checks with the Department of Justice and FBI prior to hiring employees and gets “timely notifications” if its employees are charged with a crime.

The school district is conducting its own investigation but due to employee privacy concerns, is limited in how much information it can release, according to the statement.

While school officials acknowledge that the news is “shocking and can bring up a range of emotions,” it does not intend to plan to “communicate directly with students” about the arrest.

However, Jennifer Dericco, SCUSD’s public information officer, wrote in an email that school officials met with students Feb. 14 to “share resources, including our school’s wellness team.”

“Working together, we can maintain an environment where all students can remain focused on learning,” school officials wrote in the statement.

How much jail time Garcia will face if convicted will depend on how the Santa Clara County District Attorney decides to prosecute the case, Mann wrote.

The rape charge, California Penal Code Section 261.5, could be either a felony or a misdemeanor. If convicted of a misdemeanor, according to the code, Garcia would face a year in county jail. If convicted of a felony, he could face up to four years in county jail.

A second charge, “bigamy, incest and crimes against nature,” is a felony punishable by “imprisonment in the state prison for the term prescribed,” according to the California Penal Code.

Because Garcia is older than 21, the charge’s severity depends on whether the victim was 16 years old or younger at the time of the crime, information that police and the district did not provide.

However, given the alleged relationship began in 2021, it is unlikely the girl was 17 at the start of it. If the victim were 17 in 2021, that would likely have made her 19 in 2023, making it unlikely she was still in high school.

The law does not ordinarily require statutory rapists to register as sex offenders, according to California Penal Code.

Police are asking anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Riley Frizzell at (408) 827-3558 or police@losgatosca.gov.

Garcia is out on bail.

Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com

The Silicon Valley Voice

Mott Poll Report - Overuse of devices and social media top parent concerns

Overuse of devices and social media top parent concerns

Poll Report

The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health asked a national sample of parents to rate their level of concern about a variety of health topics. Parents rated each topic as a big problem, somewhat of a problem, or not a problem for children and teens in the United States. The leading concerns rated by parents as a big problem for children and teens are presented below.

2023 Top 10 Child Health Concerns for Parents:

Overuse of devices/screen time (67%)Social media (66%)Internet safety (62%)Depression/suicide (57%)Bullying (53%)Stress/anxiety (52%)Unhealthy diet (52%)Costs of healthcare/health insurance (50%)School violence (49%)Smoking/vaping (48%)

Falling just outside the Top 10 are obesity (48%), guns/gun injuries (47%), lack of mental health services (47%), poverty (45%), drinking/using drugs (44%), child abuse/neglect (42%), followed by unequal access to health care (35%), parental stress (35%), inaccurate/misleading health information (31%), teen pregnancy/sexual activity (31%), discrimination (31%), unsafe neighborhoods (30%), gay/gender issues (LGBTQ) (29%), and health risks from polluted water and air (23%). At the bottom of the list are safety of vaccines (16%), over-involved parents/parents doing too much (13%) and COVID (12%).

Several issues are viewed as a big problem by a higher proportion of parents in low-income (<$50,000) households; these include depression/suicide, bullying, school violence, unsafe neighborhoods, drinking/drugs, smoking/vaping, teen pregnancy/sexual activity, child abuse/neglect, parental stress, discrimination, COVID, and health risks from pollution. In contrast, overuse of devices and social media are viewed as big problems by a higher proportion of parents in middle- ($50,000-$99,999) and high-income (≥$100,000) households. Parents across income groups have similar ratings for unhealthy diet, obesity, costs of healthcare, and lack of mental health services.

HighlightsTop parental concerns center on children’s and teens’ use of devices and social media.Over half of parents rate mental health issues as a big problem.Parents in low-income households rate more issues as a big problem for children and teens.

Implications

Since 2007, the Mott Poll has released periodic reports on parents’ level of concern about a variety of health-related issues for US children and teens. The top issues centered around the role of social media and the internet in children’s lives, with two-thirds of parents expressing concerns about children’s increased use of social media, as well as overall screen time. These topics became more prominent during the pandemic, and this report shows that parent concerns have not faded. As shown in prior Mott Poll Reports, children are using social media at younger ages, and parents struggle with how to appropriately monitor this area and help their children avoid the negative aspects of its use.

Poll results also demonstrate parents’ continued concern about children’s mental health. Over half of parents cited mental health topics as big problems of US children, such as depression/suicide, and stress/anxiety, and related topics like bullying. Notably, nearly half of parents cited lack of mental health services as a big problem. The mismatch between the growing number of youth with mental health concerns and the limited access to mental health services has short and long-term implications for children’s well-being.

Parents also expressed a high level of concern about violence in school, which may reflect direct experience with school shootings or fights as well as media coverage about such events. In addition, changes to the school environment (e.g., metal detectors, armed guards, locked doors) and active shooter drills may remind children and parents about the potential for school violence. Parents may struggle with how to manage their own stress and anxiety while they try to reassure their child. They may want to talk with their child periodically about how they perceive their safety in school and their emotions regarding unsafe school incidents. Parents can talk with their child’s teacher or principal to make sure adequate protocols are in place if an unsafe situation arises.

New to the Top 10 is concern about the costs of healthcare for children, including costs of getting health insurance. In recent years, federal policies required states to maintain Medicaid enrollment through the duration of the pandemic. As these requirements are ending, families that no longer qualify will face the challenge of finding affordable coverage for their children.

Unhealthy eating and obesity continue to rate as important issues, but have been overtaken by concerns about mental health and social media/screen time. For both ongoing and emerging concerns, parents may find their child’s health care provider can serve as an effective partner to help address these problems.

This Mott Poll also highlights the greater level of concern about a host of issues among parents from lower-income households. This may reflect their day-to-day experiences dealing with environmental challenges such as unsafe neighborhoods, as well as bullying or discrimination that may be more frequently experienced by children from low-income families. In addition, low-income parents reported higher levels of concern about mental health and substance use; while these problems affect children and teens across the income spectrum, it’s possible that low-income parents feel more vulnerable about these problems. Overall, parents from low-income households rated a higher number of topics as big problems; concern about a greater number of child health issues may contribute to their higher reports of parental stress as a big problem.