Memphis Standard

Josh Hammer, senior editor-at-large of Newsweek and host of “America on Trial with Josh Hammer” and “The Josh Hammer Show,” has called on the House to pass the Kids Online Safety Act. This legislation, introduced by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), passed the Senate with a 91-3 vote and aims to provide young people and parents with tools, safeguards, and transparency to protect against online harms. If enacted, it would be the first major reform to the tech industry since 1998.

Hammer emphasized the bipartisan nature of the bill in a recent episode of “America on Trial with Josh Hammer.” He stated, “The Kids Online Safety Act – or KOSA for short – was approved by a 91-3 vote in the U.S. Senate. That is about as bipartisan as it gets these days in Washington, D.C.”

He explained that KOSA would require Big Tech platforms to take "reasonable steps to prevent harms to children such as bullying, drug addiction, and sexual exploitation," while also broadening existing federal privacy protections for individuals aged 16 and younger.

Hammer also criticized Big Tech's relationship with the federal government, asserting that there has been significant collusion aimed at censorship. "Have we not seen enough evidence over the years… involving Big Tech collusion with the federal government to censor, the ‘censorship industrial complex,’" he remarked.

Additionally, Hammer highlighted concerns about how social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok affect teenage girls. He noted that these platforms contribute to unprecedented rates of depression and suicide among this demographic due to content that makes them feel insecure and inadequate.

In urging Speaker Mike Johnson to bring KOSA up for a vote, Hammer pointed out that election years offer limited opportunities for passing legislation outside of essential funding bills. "If you want to get a legislation, a bill, passed – let alone one that passed by a bipartisan margin of 91-3 in the House, this is the time to do it," he said.

For further details or to listen to the full episode, additional resources are available online.