The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced the tentative agenda for its upcoming workshop on June 4, 2025. The event, titled "The Attention Economy: How Big Tech Firms Exploit Children and Hurt Families," will be held both in person and online.
The workshop aims to address concerns regarding how major technology companies employ addictive design features, undermine parental authority, and fail to adequately protect children from harmful content. Key speakers include Senators Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee and Katie Britt from Alabama, alongside FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson and Commissioners Melissa Holyoak and Mark R. Meador.
Panel discussions during the event will cover several critical topics:
- Dangers facing children online
- Measures the FTC can implement to safeguard children online
- Age verification requirements
- Community efforts to protect children
Scheduled to commence at 9:00 am ET, the workshop will take place at the FTC’s Constitution Center building in Washington, D.C., with an option for virtual attendance via a webcast on FTC.gov. A link for the live stream will be available on the morning of the event.
Those interested in attending in person must register beforehand. Further details about the workshop are accessible on the event page.
The Federal Trade Commission's mission includes promoting competition and protecting consumers through education. The agency advises that it will never request money or make threats, nor instruct individuals to transfer funds or offer prizes. More information about consumer protection topics is available at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The public can also follow the FTC on social media, read their blogs, and subscribe to press releases for updates on news and resources.
