The Senate has taken a major step towards protecting children from harmful online content by passing legislation designed to hold tech companies accountable for their role in safeguarding minors. This bill, which passed with a resounding 91-3 vote, represents the first significant congressional effort in decades to address the dangers posed by online platforms. The legislation is a direct response to the tragic experiences of parents whose children have been victims of online bullying, suicide, and other harms related to online content.
The bill mandates that tech companies take reasonable steps to prevent harm on platforms frequently used by minors. This includes implementing a “duty of care” to ensure the safest possible settings for young users. The legislation acknowledges the significant changes in the digital landscape since the last time Congress passed a law to protect children online in 1998, a time before the rise of platforms like Facebook and the widespread use of smartphones.
Supporters of the bill, including Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, argue that it will empower children, teens, and parents to regain control over their online lives. They believe that the message being sent to tech giants is clear: they can no longer be trusted to make decisions solely in their own interests.
While the House has yet to act on the bill, Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed his commitment to finding consensus on the issue. The strong Senate vote has raised hopes that the House will take action before the end of the congressional session in January.
This legislation could potentially serve as a catalyst for further tech regulation, including measures to strengthen online privacy laws and establish guidelines for the growing use of artificial intelligence. While there has been long-standing bipartisan support for increased government scrutiny of major tech companies, finding consensus on how to achieve this has been challenging.
The child safety bill, if enacted into law, would require companies to mitigate a range of harms to children, including bullying, violence, promotion of suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and advertising for illegal products. Social media platforms would be obligated to provide minors with options to safeguard their information, disable addictive features, and opt out of personalized algorithmic recommendations. They would also be required to restrict communication between other users and children and limit features that promote prolonged platform use.
The goal, according to Blumenthal and Blackburn, is to ensure that platforms are “safe by design.” Blackburn emphasized that children should not be viewed as mere products or profit sources for tech companies.
Several tech companies, including Microsoft, X, and Snap, have voiced support for the legislation. However, NetChoice, a tech industry group representing companies such as X, Snap, Google, TikTok, and Meta Platforms, has raised concerns about the bill’s constitutionality.
Despite these concerns, the bill has been revised to address many criticisms, including those related to potential restrictions on access to information about LGBTQ+ issues or reproductive rights. Major LGBTQ+ groups have now decided to support the proposed legislation.
The bill also includes updates to child privacy laws, raising the age at which online companies can collect personal information from users from 13 to 17. Targeted advertising to teenagers would be banned, and teens or their guardians would be given the ability to delete a minor’s personal information.
This legislation represents a significant step forward in protecting children in the digital age. It reflects the growing awareness of the harms that online platforms can inflict on young people and the urgent need for tech companies to be held accountable for their actions.
