Are you ready to build future leaders?Senate Bill Report S.1748 - Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)
Brief Description: A proposed bill in Congress designed to protect minors on the internet from harmful content and online risks.
Sponsors: Lead Sponsors - Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Lead Cosponsors - Richard Blumenthal, 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:
Republicans - 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 in 2022. It subsequently passed the Senate in 2024 and has been sent to the House of Representatives, where it remains under consideration (Congress.gov, 2024). This bill, championed by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal, would require social media networks and online platforms to implement better protections for minors (individuals aged 18 and under) from harmful content and online risks.
The bill aims to protect individuals under 18 from harmful content and digital risks by requiring companies to provide safer default settings for young users alongside stronger privacy protections. It would make it easier for parents to monitor their children's activities on these applications to ensure their safety. Additionally, it mandates that companies adjust their recommendation algorithms so they do not proactively promote harmful content—such as material related to self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse, suicide, or other dangerous topics (Congress.gov, 2024). Under the law, companies would be required to take reasonable steps to ensure these safety mechanisms are fully executed.
Summary of Bill:
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) would require social media and online platforms to deploy safer default privacy settings, allow parents to effectively supervise their children's accounts, and reduce the algorithmic promotion of harmful content to safeguard users under 18 from digital risks (Congress.gov, 2024).
References
Congress.gov. (2024). S.1409 - Kids Online Safety Act. Library of Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1409
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