Kids Online Safety Act to Ensure More Comprehensive Protection for Children Online
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the landmark Meta settlement announced last week, which requires the
company to pay up to $17.1 billion in response to a federal lawsuit alleging its platforms are harmful to
children, a coalition of mental health and child safety organizations released the following statement:
“The settlement between Meta and state attorneys general is a significant step toward better protecting
children and youth online, and it also underscores why Congressional action is needed now to enact the
Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and require safe design standards for every online platform.
“We are grateful to the state attorneys general for securing several meaningful safeguards for children
and families. But it is vital for lawmakers to understand this is only a partial, temporary solution to the
ongoing risk these platforms pose.
“Children and families deserve the strongest possible protections no matter which platform they use, and
families should not have to wait until after harm occurs for companies to be held accountable. They
deserve permanent, preventive protection across platforms. That’s why Congress must now build upon
this momentum by passing the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Now that the Senate
Commerce Committee has unanimously advanced KOSA, it is time for the full Senate to vote.
“KOSA would require social media companies to prevent and mitigate harms to minors related to their
platform’s design, including compulsive use, suicide, sexual exploitation, eating disorders and mental
health harms. We call on Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring this
critical legislation to the floor for a vote in September. There is no time to waste in ensuring the wellbeing
of children and families.”
Signed by Inseparable, American Academy of Pediatrics, Becca Schmill Foundation, David’s Legacy
Foundation, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action, Fairplay, Jewish Family and
Children’s Services, San Francisco Bay Area, Mental Health America, ParentsSOS, Sandy Hook
Promise, and SAVE – Suicide Awareness Voices for Education.