Kids Online Safety Act
Kids Online Safety Act
Plain Language Summary
# Kids Online Safety Act Summary **What the Bill Would Do** The Kids Online Safety Act would require social media platforms, video games, messaging apps, and video streaming services to implement safety protections for users under age 17. The bill requires these platforms to exercise "reasonable care" when designing features that encourage user activity—aiming to prevent harm like mental health issues and harassment. It also mandates that platforms provide data protections for minors, give parents tools to access and control their child's privacy settings, and create ways for users to report harmful content. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill applies to major online platforms used by children, with some exceptions. Key requirements include protecting minors' personal data, offering parental monitoring tools, and establishing reporting mechanisms for harm. Importantly, the bill would prohibit platforms from conducting market research on children under 17.
The legislation puts responsibility on tech companies to design safer products rather than relying solely on parental controls or age verification. **Current Status** As of now, this bill (S. 1748) is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. It was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). The bill has not yet become law.
CRS Official Summary
Kids Online Safety ActThis bill requires covered online platforms, including social media platforms, to implement tools and safeguards to protect users and visitors under the age of 17. Covered platforms are online platforms, video games, messaging applications, or video streaming services used or likely to be used by individuals under the age of 17, with specified exceptions. The bill generally requires covered platforms to exercise reasonable care in the design and use of features that increase minors’ online activity in order to prevent and mitigate harm to minors (e.g., mental health disorders and severe harassment). Covered platforms are also required to provide certain safeguards to minors, such as protections for minors’ data; tools for parents of minors, such as access to minors’ privacy settings; and a mechanism for account holders and visitors to report harm to minors on the platform. Covered platforms are prohibited from conducting market or product research on children under the age of 13, and may only conduct such research on those under the age of 17 with parental consent. The bill provides for enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission and states. The bill also requires online platforms to meet certain requirements before using algorithms that select, order, or prioritize information presented to users based on user-specific data not provided for that purpose. Specifically, such platforms must (1) provide users with notice of the use of such algorithms, and (2) permit users to switch to an algorithm that does not rely on such user-specific data.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2929-2930)