U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell and Ranking Member Ted Cruz, along with Senators Edward Markey, Bill Cassidy, Richard Blumenthal, and Marsha Blackburn, have urged House Republican leaders to pass the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOSPA) package before the year ends. This legislation aims to protect children from harms associated with social media. The bill passed the Senate with a 91-3 vote in July but has since stalled in the House.
The senators emphasized in their letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise that while digital platforms have connected children globally, they have also caused significant emotional, mental, and physical harm. They cited studies indicating that increased time spent on social media correlates with poor mental health outcomes for youth. The platforms are designed to be addictive, leading to more time spent online by children.
The KOSPA package includes two main legislative components: the Markey-Cassidy Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Blumenthal-Blackburn Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). COPPA 2.0 updates existing laws by prohibiting online companies from collecting personal information from users under 17 without consent and introduces an “eraser button” for removing personal data online. KOSA provides tools for children and parents to safeguard against online risks and mandates protective settings for kids by default.
“KOSPA proves that Congress can set aside politics and act decisively when our children are at stake,” the senators stated in their letter. They called on House members to prioritize children’s well-being over tech company interests by advancing KOSPA.
The senators highlighted statistics from the U.S. Surgeon General showing high social media usage among American youth aged 13-17, with a significant portion of younger children also using these platforms despite age restrictions. They noted current federal laws do not adequately protect teenagers’ privacy online.
In closing their appeal, the senators asked their colleagues in the House to align with the Senate’s overwhelming support for KOSPA.
