Senate passes bill protecting children against social media and online dangers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – The Senate passed a bill Tuesday aimed at protecting children from harmful online content for the first time in decades.

The most recent piece of legislation of similar nature to pass Congress was the “Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Of 1998.”

The 2024 measure is titled “Kids Online Safety Act.” It aims to hold major technology companies accountable for potentially harmful content on their platforms.

If put into law, online platform operators would have to take reasonable steps to prevent underage users from interacting with content promoting things like bullying, violence, eating disorders, sexual exploitation, and substance abuse.

Social media sites could be required to offer minors more protection to their profiles and personal data.

The bill, written by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, received overwhelming bipartisan support. It passed by a vote of 91-3.

“A message that we’re sending to Big Tech; kids are not your product,” said Blackburn.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, called the measure a “very good first step” toward a properly regulated web.

“Too many kids experience relentless promotion of suicide or substance abuse material. Too many kids have their personal data collected and then use it nefariously,” Schumer said. “With studies showing that kids today spend more time on social media than ever before, now is the moment to pass KOSA, pass COPPA, and instill guard rails that protect kids from these risks.”

Some opponents worry the bill may limit free speech.

LGBTQ youth advocates said a loose definition of what is considered “harmful” to children puts their resources at risk of government censorship.

The Federal Trade Commission would be responsible for enforcing the law and determining if a company took “reasonable” steps against “harmful” material.

Parents of children who have died by suicide due to cyberbullying have been lobbying Congress for months to pass KOSA.

The bill still requires House support. Representatives are on recess until September.

Company leaders at Microsoft, X, and Snap said they support the measure. Meta representatives have not commented on the legislation.

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