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Kids Online Safety Act on the Verge of Senate Approval as Urgency to Shield Minors Rises

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Kids Online Safety Act could pass U.S. Senate soon amid calls to protect minors online

Congress hasn’t passed a law protecting children online since 1998. Advocates are aiming for a change.

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) would compel tech companies to shield minors from bullying, sexual exploitation, and content promoting suicide and eating disorders. Additionally, KOSA seeks to enhance privacy protections and limit the collection of minors’ data online.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy lent his support to the measure in June by proposing warning labels on social media platforms. His proposal was driven by a need to address the mental health crisis among children and teenagers, noting that a simple disclaimer would be insufficient.

“Congress should shield young people from online harassment, abuse, and exploitation and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content that too often appears in algorithm-driven feeds,” Murthy wrote in a New York Times op-ed.

KOSA has garnered 70 co-sponsors in the Senate, including Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona. The bill has backing from major organizations like the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as various parent advocacy groups.

“I do believe there is a heavy, critical need for a ‘duty of care’ and platform accountability when it comes to adolescent social media and online platform use,” said Meritxell Adria, co-founder of the Laloboy Foundation. She mentioned that her internal struggles as a teenager were severely aggravated by social media.

The Laloboy Foundation was founded by Adria and her mother, Paolla Jordan, to raise awareness on mental health and support families in need of counseling. Jordan, from Chandler, lost her son Adrio Romine in 2019 due to a tragic incident involving online interactions. It led to intense lobbying efforts, culminating in the passing of House Bill 2459 in March 2021, which allows charging an adult with manslaughter for advising a minor on suicide methods.

Adria and Jordan both support KOSA. Reflecting on her teenage years, Adria lamented the proliferation of social media accounts promoting dangerous behaviors like self-harm and eating disorders.

“These platforms should not sustain this dangerous content for any age group, especially children,” Adria stated. “The lack of accountability is alarming, and the fact that harmful content from over a decade ago is still accessible is unacceptable.”

Jordan emphasized the need for adults to regulate children’s social media usage. “Unrestricted access is irresponsible,” she said. “It’s our duty as parents to ensure a safe online environment for our children, which involves regular monitoring and open conversations about social media dangers.”

Advocates stress the necessity of social media guidelines and protections against the backdrop of rising mental health issues. The online culture exposes young people to relentless scrutiny and bullying, even within the confines of their homes—a struggle past generations didn’t face.

“The constant visibility can be detrimental when you’re still figuring out who you are,” remarked Riana Alexander, a Northern Arizona University psychology student and former president of Arizona Students for Mental Health. “Studies show app designs can make users, especially youth, addicted.”

In 2023, 42 attorneys general, including Arizona’s Kris Mayes, filed lawsuits against Meta, accusing the company of intentionally designing features to addict children and teens. Echoing this concern, Natalia Chimbo-Andrade, director at Community Bridges in Mesa, noted the impressionability of youth and the harm of social media exposure.

“Social media can exacerbate feelings of hopelessness,” Chimbo-Andrade said, advocating for warning labels as suggested by the surgeon general.

Despite its support, KOSA faces opposition. Fight for the Future, an advocacy nonprofit with contributions from Reddit and others, has launched the Stop KOSA campaign. They argue that the bill risks censorship instead of tackling the core issues.

“Concerns about young people’s harm from Big Tech are valid,” the group states, “but enabling censorship that harms marginalized kids is not the answer. Congress should focus on comprehensive data privacy laws that protect all users.”

Other organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, also oppose KOSA. They argue that it would compromise children’s privacy, limit access to crucial resources and stifle important conversations.

“This bill would not keep kids safe but instead threatens young people’s privacy,” ACLU declared. The Freedom of the Press Foundation added that KOSA might obstruct student journalists’ access to essential information.

“Social media can be both a source of community and harm,” concluded Alexander. “While it offers support, it’s equally easy to find content that makes individuals feel worse about themselves.”