A new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report has revealed that major social media and streaming platforms, including Meta, YouTube, and TikTok, engage in extensive surveillance practices, collecting vast amounts of user data often without meaningful user consent. The report highlights how these companies monetize personal information through targeted advertising, with particular concern for the data handling practices involving children and teenagers. FTC Chair Lina Khan emphasized the dangers of such data practices, which can lead to privacy invasions, identity theft, and other harms. The report, based on a 2020 data request from nine major companies, calls for federal privacy legislation and improved data protection measures. The findings have spurred legislative actions, including the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) 2.0, both advancing in Congress. The FTC's report underscores the need for baseline protections to ensure user privacy and control over personal data.