Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Google's Sundar Pichai Reportedly Spared From Child Safety Senate Testimony As White House Steps In
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.The White House reportedly stepped in to prevent the CEOs of Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc., Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai, respectively, from testifying at a Senate hearing on child safety practices.Instead, the heads of Instagram and YouTube, subsidiaries of Meta and Google, respectively, are set to testify at the hearing, tentatively scheduled for July 28, reported POLITICO on Wednesday.Don’t Miss:The White House has endorsed the James T. Woods Act, a legislative package designed to address online child exploitation. Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a supporter of the proposal, agreed to substitute company executives for the hearing.Grassley previously invited the CEOs of Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snapchat parent Snap Inc. to testify at a hearing on child online safety, which he described as examining whether social media is facing its “Big Tobacco moment.”A spokesperson for Grassley told the publication that the senator is focused on “getting lifesaving child safety legislation actually signed into law,” rather than holding hearings primarily aimed at generating online clicks and views.White House, Meta and Alphabet did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.See Also: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe’ Holdings Could Be Costing You Big TimeSocial Media Giants Under ScrutinyThis development comes days after Meta reportedly decided to back the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bill that mandates tech firms to establish online safety measures for children, after years of opposing it. This is because the bill would preempt state AI regulations and require app stores operated by Google and Apple to implement age verification, transferring part of the responsibility for child safety from social media companies to app store platforms.In 2025, Meta faced criticism over its AI strategy and alleged permission for chatbots to engage in inappropriate conversations with children. This prompted Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) to call for an immediate investigation, increasing regulatory scrutiny and reputational pressure on the social media giant.Meanwhile, YouTube settled a lawsuit brought by a teenager who claimed he became addicted to social media, suffering sleep disruption, anxiety, and depression as a result.Image via ShutterstockRead Next: Building Wealth Across More Than Just the MarketBuilding a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.ArrivedBacked by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.BluSky AIThe rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is creating significant demand for data centers, power, and compute infrastructure. BluSky AI is building modular AI data centers designed to support next-generation AI workloads while aiming to reduce deployment timelines compared to traditional facilities. For investors looking beyond AI software and applications, the company offers exposure to the infrastructure layer that makes artificial intelligence possible.ARK7Residential real estate has historically provided investors with income potential and long-term appreciation, but direct ownership can be expensive and time-consuming. ARK7 enables investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties, offering access to potential rental income and real estate exposure without property management responsibilities. By lowering the barrier to entry, the platform gives investors another way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds.ImmersedImmersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.Miso RoboticsRobotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools for businesses facing labor shortages and rising operating costs. Miso Robotics develops AI-powered kitchen technology that is already being deployed in restaurant environments, with products designed to help operators improve efficiency and streamline operations. As artificial intelligence expands beyond software and into real-world applications, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics, automation and the future of food service.VinovestFine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000 — sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.FarmTogetherFarmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.EquityMultipleFor accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.FundrisePrivate real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.American Hartford GoldAmerican Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer that helps clients buy physical gold and silver coins and bars, either for direct delivery or within self-directed precious metals IRAs. The company’s services include gold and silver IRAs, IRA rollovers, and home delivery of bullion, giving investors a way to use tangible metals to diversify portfolios and seek protection against inflation and market volatility.Mode MobileMode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream.© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
