Meta says its parental controls protect kids. But hardly anyone uses them.
Washington PostJAN 14 2024
The US Senate Tuesday passed major online child safety reforms with a 91-3 vote, banning advertising to minors and making social media firms more responsible.
The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) are reportedly the first such attempts in two decades.
The Senate's nod sends the bills, reportedly the product of inputs from lawmakers and parents over many years, to the House currently in recess.
The impact of social media on children's mental health has for years underscored the urgent need for reforms to protect children online. A rise in anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues linked to social media has frequently been reported in recent years. KOSA offers much-needed safeguards, requiring platforms to enable strong privacy settings for minors, give parents more control, and hold platforms accountable for harmful content. It could create a safer digital environment for children, preventing tragedies from being repeated.