Memphis Standard

Earlier this week, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal joined a bipartisan group of legislators urging House Republican leaders to pass the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOSPA) package before the end of the year. The legislation, aimed at protecting children from harms associated with social media, has been stalled in the House after passing overwhelmingly in the Senate.

A letter sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise called for prioritizing children's well-being over tech companies by bringing KOSPA to a vote. The package combines two measures: the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which proposes regulations for online features offered to kids, and aims to mitigate mental health impacts; and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), which updates data privacy laws by banning targeted advertising to minors.

The senators stated, "We write today to state our support for protecting American children from the harms caused by social media and other online platforms." They emphasized that while digital tools offer benefits, they also pose significant risks to children's well-being.

Signatories included Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member Ted Cruz, along with Senators Marsha Blackburn, Richard Blumenthal, Bill Cassidy, and Ed Markey. As the lame-duck session nears its end, pressure mounts on House leadership to act on these bills.

There are concerns within both parties regarding language in the Senate versions of KOSA and COPPA 2.0. Speaker Johnson noted issues with details in KOSA's Senate-passed version as "very problematic," while others worry about its "duty of care" provision requiring platforms to design features reducing harm from harmful content like suicide promotion.

Efforts led by Senator Blackburn have included meetings between tech advocacy groups and members alongside parents affected by social media-related tragedies. The Hill reached out to Johnson and Scalise’s offices for comment.