The US Senate has passed a major social media safety package aimed at protecting children online, requiring tech companies to implement stricter safeguards against harmful content. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, but face an uncertain future in the House of Representatives. The legislation, which has been backed by tech giants like Microsoft, X, and Snap, aims to establish a ‘duty of care’ for online platforms, mandating the removal of harmful content such as sexual exploitation, bullying, and promotion of suicide and eating disorders. However, free speech groups have raised concerns about potential censorship, arguing that the definition of harm is too broad. COPPA aims to strengthen privacy standards for minors and outlaw targeted advertising towards children and teens.