Are you ready to build future leaders?Senate Bill Report S.1748 - Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)
Brief Description: A proposed bill in Congress that will try to protect kids on the internet from harmful content and online risks.
Sponsors:
Lead Sponsors - Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Lead Cosponsors - Richard Blumenthal, Marsha Blackburn, Chris Murphy, Katie Britt, Amy Klobuchar, John Thune, Ben Ray Luján, Cynthia Lummis, Edward Markey, Bill Cassidy, Peter Welch, and Roger Wicker.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Passed Senate 7/30/24
Still in the House
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Senate Majority Report:
Representatives - 41 yes
Democrats - 48 yes
House Majority report:
Still being debated in the house
Background:
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is a bill first proposed in the Senate back in 2022. It then passed in 2024 and has been sent to the House, where it still is today. This bill, first proposed by Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal, will require social media and online platforms to have better protection for kids (18 and under) from harmful content and online risks.
The bill will protect people 18 under from harmful content and online risks by requiring companies to have safer default settings for their users with stronger privacy protections, making it easier for parents to see what their kids do on those apps to make sure they’re not doing anything bad, and they will make companies change their algorithms so they don’t promote harmful content like self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse, suicide, or other dangerous topics. And companies will have to take reasonable steps to make sure that it is being carried out.
Summary of Bill:
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) will require social media platforms and online platforms to have safer default settings, allowing parents to supervise their child's account, and reduce promotion for harmful content to protect users under 18 from harmful content and online risks.
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