The US Senate passed its first major child online safety bills in years. Social media giants like Meta and X have faced significant political backlash for not implementing safeguards against online dangers for children, including threats from sexual predators and risks of teen suicide.
On Tuesday, the Senate approved a comprehensive social media safety package that mandates tech companies to enhance protections for children. This marks the first substantial legislation aimed at Silicon Valley in a generation.
Amid an increasingly contentious election year, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) saw overwhelming bipartisan support, with only three senators dissenting.
However, these bills face an uncertain future in the House of Representatives. Although Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed broad support, a vote has not yet been scheduled.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted the significance of this legislation, stating, “The Senate keeps its promise to every parent who has lost a child due to social media risks. KOSA and COPPA are vital updates to federal laws protecting kids online.”
These bills, developed in consultation with parents of bullied or sexually exploited teens, have faced opposition from free speech groups concerned about potential censorship.
KOSA would impose a “duty of care” on online platforms, requiring them to implement special protections for minors against harmful content. Supported by Microsoft, X, and Snap, the bill mandates platforms to provide a dedicated page for reporting harmful content, including sexual exploitation, bullying, and promotion of suicide and eating disorders.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to victims’ families, acknowledging the dangers children face on social media.
Seven LGBTQ advocacy groups withdrew their initial opposition to KOSA after updates addressed their concerns about teens’ access to information on gender identity, sexuality, and reproductive health. However, free speech groups like the American Civil Liberties Union argue that the broad definition of harm could lead to censorship.
COPPA aims to strengthen privacy standards for Americans under 17, banning targeted advertising to children and teens and requiring companies to allow users to delete personal information.
Schumer emphasized the urgent need for these protections, stating, “With kids spending more time on social media, now is the time to pass KOSA and COPPA to protect them from these risks.”
Despite these advancements, Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden voiced concerns on X, stating that changes to KOSA remain insufficient and could enable a future conservative administration to censor information on gay, trans, and reproductive health.
