Keeping It Real: Katie Britt on Big Tech’s Hidden Threats to Kids

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When the internet meets childhood, the stakes can be devastating. On Keeping It Real, Jillian Michaels sits down with Senator Katie Britt from Alabama, and this conversation hits hard. Britt's not just speaking as a senator—she's a mother watching this crisis unfold in real time. And she's not mincing words. According to Britt, children are being exposed to drugs, predators, gambling, pornography, and harmful AI tools in plain sight. She says this fight is no longer theoretical—it's happening inside families right now.
Right, and she's backing that up with action. Britt is pushing multiple bills to create real guardrails: Sammy's Law, the Kids Off Social Media Act, the Guard Act, the Stop the Scroll Act, and the Game Act. Her message is blunt—big tech has chosen profit over safety, and Congress has been too slow to respond. That's a powerful accusation. What specifically is she saying about tech companies? She puts it plainly: tech companies are making money off children, rewiring their brains, and putting them in harm's way.
One major focus is access to drugs and gambling. Britt warns that children can buy pills laced with fentanyl through apps like Snapchat. That's terrifying. And the gambling piece? She says gambling ads are reaching minors through games and social media. The Game Act would ban gambling ads targeted at children, because early gambling can become a lifelong addiction.
The episode also turns to sexual exploitation. Britt points out that kids can get around age checks with VPNs, while sextortion and non-consensual images remain a growing crisis. She notes the Take It Down Act is already law, but insists more protections are needed as predators become more organized online. Mental health is another urgent theme here. Britt points to rising depression and suicide risk among young people, and says AI chatbots can isolate children and even encourage self-harm. That's why she and a bipartisan coalition want stronger rules before these tools become even more dangerous.
So what's her solution? Where does accountability come in? She tackles Section 230—the law that once helped the internet grow but has become a shield for companies that know harmful content is circulating and do nothing. She also cites fraud, including AI voice scams and platforms allegedly charging more to host content they already know is illegal.
And her advice to parents?
Practical and direct. Learn the apps, limit screen time, use available tools, and stay involved. As Britt says, "We do not want a nanny state, but we also do not want poison in our homes." In the end, she says, "We must literally and figuratively be the adults in the room."