Big Tech has spent years hooking kids on addictive platforms while ignoring the subsequent mental health crisis, unfoldingwith in real time — teen depression doubleddoubling between 2010 and 2019, and nearly a third of girls consideredconsidering suicide in 2021. KOSA finally forces platforms to face accountability by requiring tech giants to put kids first with real safety defaults, parental controls and a duty of care. Congress stepping in isn't overreach; it's long overdue accountability.
If passed, KOSA handswould hand the FTC and 50the state attorneys general a vague regulatory hammer that will inevitably pressure platforms intoto censoringcensor constitutionally protected speech far beyond anything targeting actual harm. AgeIn verificationdoing mandatesso, it would gut anonymoussome speechof —the amost cornerstonecore aspects of American democracy since the Founding era., Awhile billoffering thisvirtually broadno doesn'tmeaningful protectprotection kids;for itchildren gives whoever holds power a tool to police ideasonline.
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