US Senate Passes Key Online Child Safety Reforms
US Senate Passes Key Online Child Safety Reforms
The Facts
The US Senate Tuesday passed major online child safety reforms in a 91-3 vote, banning advertising to minors and making social media firms more responsible for the safety of minors on their platforms.The US Senate Tuesday passed two online child safety bills in a 91-3 vote, banning advertising to minors and making social media firms more responsible for the safety of minors on their platforms.
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 to be passed.The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) are reportedly the first such attempts to be passed in two decades.
The Spin
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 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.
The child online safety reforms, though well-intentioned, may inadvertently harm children. To enforce these laws, tech companies must identify underage users, leading to increased online surveillance and privacy issues for everyone. ThisAkin limitsto internetgovernment freedomcensorship, andthe disproportionatelyvague affectslegislation marginalizedalso communitiesruns likethe undocumentedrisk migrantsof andbeing LGBTQ+misused individualsby ideologically driven attorneys general, who would be left to decide the parameters of harmful speech. These measures couldare invadein privacyclear andviolation restrictof accessthe toConstitution crucialand informationmust be reconsidered.
