Senate to Vote on Pioneering Online Safety Bills for Kids

The U.S. Senate will vote on two major online safety bills for children and teens. With broad bipartisan support, the legislation is expected to pass. The Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act aim to protect minors from dangers and ensure their privacy.

The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote on two significant online safety bills this Thursday, addressing growing concerns about the impact of social media on children and teens. The legislative move is a response to demands from parents and advocates who have long sought stricter regulations.

The bills, which enjoy broad bipartisan backing, are expected to clear the Senate's 60-vote threshold. Presently, the Democrats hold a 51-49 majority. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the urgent need for action, stating, 'Unlike decades past, ensuring our kids' safety today means ensuring their online safety.'

The Kids Online Safety Act mandates that social media platforms offer minors options to protect their information and disable addictive features by default. It also imposes a legal duty on companies to mitigate risks to minors, such as suicide and disordered eating.

Similarly, the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act aims to ban targeted advertising to minors and prevent data collection without consent. It offers parents and children the right to delete personal data from social media platforms. Nicknamed KOSA and COPPA 2.0, these bills represent the most significant legislative effort to protect children's online safety since COPPA in 1998.

Tech giants like Microsoft Corp and Snap Inc have shown support for the legislative efforts, although Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, argues that app stores should instead be required to seek parental approval for downloads by minors.