Kids' Online Safety
US Congress lags on social media safety for kids as global bans increase
As countries around the world move to ban children from social media, the U.S. Congress has yet to pass a single major law protecting kids online. Australia became the first country to legally ban social media for children under 16, and other nations are following suit — but American lawmakers remain stuck, according to WSAW.
A Pew Research Center survey found that about 60% of Americans support banning social media for children under 16. Yet Congress has not reached a deal on even basic safety rules for kids on these platforms, KLTV reported.
Australia Acts First While U.S. Falls Behind
Australia passed the world's first national law banning social media for children under 16. Several other countries have announced similar bans. The global push shows growing concern about the harm these platforms cause young users, according to KPLCTV.
In the U.S., no such ban exists. Experts say an American ban would face serious legal hurdles. The First Amendment protects free speech, which could make an outright social media ban hard to enforce in court. Problems with legal language in proposed laws add another obstacle, Western Mass News reported.
Senate Passed KOSA, But the House Stalled It
Instead of banning social media outright, Congress tried a different approach: regulating the companies that run these platforms. The Kids Online Safety Act, known as KOSA, passed the Senate with strong support. But the bill stalled in the House and never became law, according to WISTV.
KOSA was part of a broader online safety package. That larger bill included a "duty of care" rule. It would have required social media companies to take reasonable steps to prevent serious harms — including suicide, sexual exploitation, and substance abuse — from reaching young users, Wave3 reported.
First Amendment Fears Complicate Any Federal Ban
Legal experts warn that a U.S. social media ban for minors would almost certainly face court challenges. Courts have struck down similar state-level laws in the past. The First Amendment makes it hard to restrict access to speech-based platforms, even for children, according to KPTV.
Poorly written legal language is another problem. If a law is too vague about what counts as harmful content or which platforms must comply, courts can throw it out. Experts say Congress must get the wording right to have any chance of surviving a legal challenge, WEAU reported.
Public Support Is High, But Congress Has Not Acted
The Pew Research Center found 60% of Americans back a social media ban for kids under 16. That is a large majority across party lines. But widespread public support has not been enough to push a bill through the full Congress, according to Fox5 Vegas.
With no federal law in place, children in the U.S. remain largely unprotected online. State laws exist in some places but vary widely and face their own legal fights. Advocates say Congress must act now before more children are harmed, KY3 reported.
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