U.S. Senate plans to vote this week on pair of children’s online safety bills

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A bipartisan agreement is hoping to add restrictions online for social media users 17 years of age and under.

Two social media bills are likely to pass in the Senate by the end of this week; the Kid’s Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s and the Teens Online Privacy Protection Act. Both bills are set to give parents more control over what their children can and can’t access online.

One of the most unique features is limiting auto-play on reels and TikTok.

Cyberbullying has been the driving force behind the push for the pair of bills. Both sides of the aisle heard from countless families who lost children by suicide after interactions online.

Beverly Ebersold is a mom to 15-year-old Siggy Ebersold. Her son, Siggy, shared with 22News that he uses social media every day and usually blocks anyone who reacts negatively to him online and removes himself from that situation.

Beverly also shared with 22News that she is open to discussing with her son what kind of interactions he has on Snapchat and TikTok. She shared that she’s not afraid to ask him questions.

For the last decade, congress has been trying to nail big tech and the health risks they impose on the youth.

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