WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), authors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, led stakeholders in amplifying the Kids Online Safety Act ahead of today’s U.S. Senate vote to pass the legislation. The legislation, which has 72 total co-sponsors, would provide kids and parents with better tools to protect themselves online, hold Big Tech accountable for harms to kids, and provide transparency into black box algorithms.

The bill has strong bipartisan momentum and is steadfastly supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including parents who have tragically lost their children or whose kids have been severely harmed by Big Tech, young people who want to regain control of their online lives, and hundreds of advocacy groups and experts who study and see the negative effects of social media firsthand in their communities.

“Today, the Senate took a monumental step towards protecting our children by passing KOSPA with overwhelming bipartisan support. This victory is a testament to the relentless advocacy of parents who have tragically lost their children to the harmful practices of Big Tech. Our families have turned their grief into action, leading a powerful movement for change on behalf of all families impacted by the predatory algorithms and exploitative designs of social media platforms. We are deeply grateful to Senators Blackburn, Blumenthal, Cassidy, and Markey for championing this critical legislation. Now, we urge the House to honor the Senate's resolve and take decisive action to safeguard the mental health and lives of children nationwide,” said Maurine Molak, co-founder of ParentsSOS and The David Legacy Foundation.

“Today, an overwhelming bipartisan majority of US Senators said that Big Tech must stop the unconscionable business practices and design choices that have fueled a mental health crisis and cost the lives of countless children around the country. Today's historic vote is a testament to the tireless efforts of parents who have lost their children to Big Tech's greed and an incredible coalition that believes a better internet for young people is possible. We thank Senators Schumer, Blackburn, Blumenthal, Cassidy and Markey for introducing this game-changing legislation and call on the House to follow the Senate's lead,” said Josh Golin, Executive Director of Fairplay.

“We can no longer afford to allow social media companies to knowingly expose vulnerable youth to harmful images and content. It is clear that the voices of our brave advocates have been heard by Congress, and the time for action is now. The Eating Disorders Coalition is proud to be part of this important work, and we look forward to seeing the swift passage of this bill,” said Dr. Christine Peat, President of Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy, & Action.

“The Kids Online Safety and Act (KOSA) is a statement that childhood is sacred and children deserve our best efforts to empower and protect them from the gross profit-driven negligence of tech companies who intentionally build addiction into their product design,” said Jason Frost, President and Co-Founder of Wired Human. “KOSA provides critical protections to mitigate online harms such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, addictive-like behaviors, sexual exploitation, and suicide. We the people have spoken, that tech industry billionaires do not determine the future and well-being of our children. KOSA makes history by building a brighter future for children and families!"

“The Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act will safeguard our children in this increasingly digital world,” said Kris Perry, Executive Director of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development. “Without their consent, children are exposed to multiple risks including cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and the exploitation of their personal data. This is a crucial step toward establishing robust protections and ensuring a safer online environment where children can learn, play, and grow without harm.”    

“Passing KOSA is a significant step forward toward protecting kids from the harms of Big Tech,” said Joel Thayer, President of the Digital Progress Institute. “KOSA’s targeted, bipartisan approach ensures that parents have the ability to protect their kids online from those features and designs that hurt their development and mental health. This is simply a win for parents, children, and consumers all around!”

“The passage of KOSA and COPPA 2.0 by the Senate will send a strong message to Silicon Valley and its powerful tech lobbying groups. These groups have spent millions of dollars to kill these bills. The passage of these important child safety bills will show that Congress and the American people will no longer tolerate big tech's prioritization of profits over the protection of our children,” said Rick Lane, CEO of IGGY Ventures LLC and child safety advocate.

“Preventing the online exploitation of children is a non-partisan issue that has wide bi-partisan support, as it should. Unfortunately, while every child deserves a protected age of innocence, sadly, the very digital environment where so many vulnerable children seek companionship and compassion, has become the very vehicle that has backfired to cause them harm and in some instances, their very lives. KOSA is designed to help remedy this by requiring social media services to implement common sense safeguards to better protect children in the evolving and increasingly dangerous digital world. Too many children have been sacrificed online due to the misguided notion that big tech companies get a 'no responsibility/no accountability free pass’ when it comes to doing their part. Enough Is Enough stands together with the bi-partisan sponsors of KOSA and our allies across America in support of KOSA, a critical bill that puts a stake in the ground that says ‘Enough Is Enough!’. It takes all of us, working together to safeguard our children, our future,” said Donna Rice Hughes, CEO and President of Enough Is Enough, Author, Speaker, Media Commentator and Emmy Award Winning Producer of PBS TV Series Internet Safety 101: Empowering Parents.

“The Kids Online Safety Act must be passed without delay. Despite the fact that a huge portion of social media consumers are kids, these platforms have been totally exempted from any regulation for child safety whatsoever. And this is the sad result: America's kids are suffering from a mental health crisis of epochal proportions, driven by social media platforms that are designed to be highly-addictive. The Kids Online Safety Act gives parents and young Americans effective tools to make their own experiences on these platforms more age-appropriate, granting them the freedom to disable the most addictive features. It also imposes upon these Big Tech companies what they should have taken up themselves long ago: a ‘duty of care’ to not design their platforms to exploit children. It is time to pass the Kids Online Safety Act. Social media companies do not need or deserve the protection of lawmakers. America’s children do,” said Michael Toscano, Executive Director of The Institute for Family Studies.

“More must be done to keep children safe online. The bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act spearheaded by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) delivers urgent solutions that will help protect kids online, helping to put parents’ concerns at ease. The legislation is designed to prevent access to harmful sites, requires social media companies to enable strong security settings for children, and empowers parents to have more control over the content their children have access to. PDE Action applauds the bipartisan work that has enabled this timely legislation and urge its swift passage,” said Michele Exner, Director of Federal Affairs at Parents Defending Education Action.

“Regulation to protect young people online is long overdue, and we at Pinterest support the Kids Online Safety Act. Collaboration across industry and government is critical to ensuring the internet continues to be a positive resource for young people. Pinterest is deeply committed to building a safe and inspirational internet, and we applaud the Senate's action,” said Bill Ready, Pinterest CEO.

“Our children face an online world that is primarily designed for adults, with little to no protections for them. They are up against powerful algorithms that feed harmful content to them. They can interact with adults who may turn out to be predators and fall victim to sextortion schemes. They can access sexually explicit and graphically violent content with a click of a button. Congress is holding the tech industry accountable for protecting our children with the passage of the Kids Online Safety Act and Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act,” said Melissa Henson, Vice President of Parents Television and Media Council.

“Tech shills love to say they care about empowering parents, but they obviously don’t. That’s why they fight for the status quo, where kids are being harmed online every single day. Parents need Congress to act to help protect their kids online. They’re literally begging for help. And finally the Senate has answered the call. KOSA would hold tech platforms responsible for how they interact with minor users. For the first time, Big Tech companies would be required by law to put child safety over profit. That would be an enormous win for parents and families, so we hope to see KOSA signed quickly into law,” said Jon Schweppe, Policy Director for American Principles Project.

“We at Safe House Project stand in strong support of this critical bill aimed at safeguarding minors from online harms. This legislation is a significant step toward creating a safer digital environment for our youth, ensuring that platforms take necessary measures to prevent dangers like sexual exploitation and cyberbullying. Every child deserves a life free from fear and exploitation, both online and offline. Together, we can protect our children and bring hope, freedom, and a future to all survivors,” said Kristi Wells, CEO of Safe House Project.

“The internet opens up a world of opportunities for youth, offering unprecedented access to knowledge, freedom, and connection. However, it also exposes them to significant risks, as I know all too well from my experience being recruited by my trafficker through Myspace. The Kids Online Safety Act is a vital initiative to protect children from the dangers of exploitation, ensuring that their online experiences are safe and supportive. By implementing essential safeguards and empowering parents and platforms to take action, KOSA helps preserve the positive potential of the internet while mitigating its vulnerabilities. Supporting this legislation is not just a matter of policy; it's about protecting the lives and futures of our children, ensuring they can explore the digital world without fear,” said Alia Azariah, Survivor-Leader at Trafficking Survivors Equity Coalition (TSEC).

“When is enough, enough? Just like the long battle to mandate seatbelts, we must ask ourselves how many more children need to be harmed before we take decisive action. Technology has been weaponized against our children, and predators are always ahead of the regulations while the good people are perpetually playing catch-up. There was a time when we could protect our families by simply locking our doors and windows, now our doors and windows are locked with the predator's conduit through the internet. We need the government to step up and help us protect our families from these digital threats. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is a necessary step to safeguard our children and get out in front of this issue. What will it take for us to recognize that protecting a child's well-being online is non-negotiable? It is time to prioritize the safety of our children and ensure that technology serves as a shield, not a weapon, against them. I urge the Senate to pass KOSA now, before more innocent lives are put at risk,” said Tonya Turner, Chief Executive Officer of UNITAS.

“Free Forever-Latisha's House Foundation wholeheartedly supports the passing of the Kids Online Safety Act (S. 1409). Almost every survivor of sex trafficking who comes to our restorative care homes was exploited as a child.  We are committed to supporting this vital bill, which sets out stringent requirements to protect minors from online harms, mandating that platforms take proactive measures to prevent issues like sexual exploitation and online bullying.  By ensuring minors have safeguards for their personal data and giving parents the tools to supervise their children's online activities, this legislation addresses critical vulnerabilities. The Act's provisions for transparency, reporting, and oversight will significantly enhance the safety and well-being of children in the digital age. Preventing trafficking before it starts is essential, and the Kids Online Safety Act is a crucial step towards creating a safer online environment for all children,” said Liz Ameling, CEO of Free Forever – Latisha’s House.

“As Chief of Programs and Strategy at United Against Human Trafficking (UAHT), I see firsthand the importance of prevention and support for vulnerable populations. Technology has become a powerful tool for traffickers to exploit our most vulnerable, making the need for protective legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) more urgent than ever. KOSA provides essential safeguards that help prevent online exploitation and protect children from predators who lurk on the internet. Our work focuses on educating and supporting those at risk, and KOSA aligns perfectly with our mission by enhancing the safety net for children. It is time for the government to step up and ensure that technology serves to protect, not endanger, our children. I strongly urge the Senate to pass KOSA to help us create a safer, more secure online environment for all. Protecting our children is not just a priority; it is an absolute necessity,” said Elaine Andino, Chief Programs and Strategy Officer of United Against Human Trafficking (UAHT).

“As the COO and Co-founder of Safe House Project, a national leader in combating human trafficking, I fully support the passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). This critical legislation is essential for creating a safer digital environment for our children, who are at increasing risk of online exploitation and abuse. KOSA is but one bill Safe House Project has spent a significant amount of time on Capitol Hill advocating for, but it is the most urgent policy needed to protect the most vulnerable. By implementing robust safety measures and empowering parents with the tools they need, KOSA aligns perfectly with our mission to safeguard children from the dangers that exist online. I urge the Senate to pass this bill immediately, ensuring a safer future for the next generation,” said Brittany Dunn, COO & Co-founder of Safe House Project.

“As the former Director of Human Trafficking Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice and a former detective, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of online exploitation on our children. The predators are relentless, and the current laws are not enough to protect our most vulnerable. It is time for decisive action to better safeguard our kids in the digital age. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is a necessary start, providing critical protections and empowering parents to shield their children from online dangers. I urge the Senate to pass KOSA immediately. This legislation is not just a step forward; it is an essential measure to ensure the safety and well-being of our children. Let's make it clear that we will no longer tolerate the exploitation of our youth. It’s time to prioritize their safety and take a stand against these heinous crimes,” said Bill Woolf, Principal of The Woolf Group.

“Big Tech keeps proving what American families already know: it cares more about its own profits than the emotional, mental, and physical health of children. Silicon Valley consistently fails to keep kids safe from dangerous content, predators, and the deliberate hacking of kids’ attention. The Kids Online Safety Act is a responsible, broadly supported, and desperately needed measure to start doing something about it,” said Chris Griswold, Policy Director of American Compass.  

“The safety and well-being of young people on Snapchat is a top priority. That’s why Snap has been a long-time supporter of the Kids Online Safety Act. We applaud Senators Blackburn, Blumenthal and the 70 other co-sponsors of this critical legislation for their leadership and commitment to the privacy and safety of young people,” said Jennifer Stout, Vice President of Global Public Policy at Snap, Inc.

“Enough is enough. The default for children online should be safety, not exploitation. The Kids Online Safety Act empowers parents through recourse, transparency, and the stringent technical controls needed to hold Big Tech accountable for deliberately targeting younger and younger users with products that rewire their brains, poison their consciences, and generally impair their life satisfaction,” said Kara Frederick, Director of the Tech Policy Center at the Heritage Foundation and Wes Hodges, Heritage Big Tech Campaign Lead.

“Psychological science continues to provide evidence that social media platforms are sometimes associated with harm to young people,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO of the American Psychological Association. “We are heartened by the attention given to this issue by the White House and a growing bipartisan group of members of Congress. The Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act represents an important step toward mitigating that harm and holding the platforms accountable for these impacts. It is time for Congress to pass this legislation.”

“The passage of the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act out of the Senate represents a monumental milestone for my generation: after decades of inaction, Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn have led the charge to get this crucial legislation to protect young people online through the Senate. KOSA offers young people necessary choices over their online experience — in an era where Big Tech has taken advantage of us. I am proud of the tireless work of Design It For Us’ advocates who have come back to the Capitol over and over to tell their stories. I thank Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn, and their staff, for their steadfast commitment to my generation’s privacy and safety. While we recognize what an incredible accomplishment this is, there is still more work to be done and I look forward to working with the Senators, Rep. Castor, Rep. Bilirakis to get this bill through the House and to the President’s desk. We can get this done,” said Zamaan Qureshi (22), Co-Chair of Design It For Us.

“The Senate's passage of the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act sends a clear message that Congress is finally listening to parents and advocates from across the country. The House of Representatives will now be under enormous pressure to pass this bill as well when it returns from its August recess. Because here's the truth: social media companies will not protect kids' online safety and privacy unless lawmakers force them to do it. Congress must pass this bill to protect the mental health of young people across the nation and make the internet healthier and safer for every child and teen. Alongside hundreds of other advocacy organizations and experts, Common Sense has been pushing for years on behalf of children who have experienced the many devastating harms of social media use and have had their personal data exploited. We've been working to update the existing but outdated children's federal privacy law since at least 2012, and we have backed the online safety measure since it was introduced in 2021, after Congressional hearings from Big Tech CEOs, whistleblowers, non-profits, parents, and youth. Congress cannot kick the can down the road any longer – after the Senate completes this bill next week, the House must follow suit and Congress will then and once and for all be able to proudly say that it has finally taken meaningful action to protect America's children, teens, and families,” said James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media.

“The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is a crucial step in ensuring the safety of our children online. As an organization dedicated to stopping the exploitation of children, we have seen firsthand that this is overdue and necessary legislation which requires digital platforms to exercise reasonable care and implement safeguards to protect kids from a wide range of online dangers,” said Bob Rodgers, CEO of Street Grace.

“Hope for Justice is pleased to support the proposed legislation aimed at enhancing the safety and well-being of minors on digital platforms. This bill takes a comprehensive and balanced approach to protect young users while promoting transparency and accountability among online service providers,” said Sarah Butler, Director of US Programs at Hope for Justice.

“In today's digital world, it is increasingly difficult to protect our children from the numerous dangers they encounter online. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) stands as the most comprehensive online child protection bill, equipping families with essential tools and resources to safeguard children's online activities while ensuring tech companies are held accountable for their role in children's safety. KOSA will foster a safer online environment where our children can thrive without fear of exploitation or harm,” said Ashlie Bryant, CEO of 3Strands Global Foundation.

“Today’s vote is a victory for America’s youth. A victory for putting the mental health of America’s youth above the profits and interests of Big Tech. The bipartisanship leadership of Senator Richard Blumenthal and Senator Marsha Blackburn, along with the ‘promise made, promise kept’ commitment of Senate Majority Leader Schumer, is to be applauded. SAVE-Suicide Awareness Voices of Education is proud to stand with our coalition partners and expresses our gratitude to parents who lost their children to suicide for their courage in bringing their journey and voices to this fight. The passage of the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOSPA) will provide the kind of guardrails needed on social media to protect our youth from online predators, increases in suicidal ideation and suicide. Every American who believes we should ensure access to social media for youth but also protect them while they consume it, should celebrate the passage of the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act. It’s now time for the United States House of Representatives to take quick, decisive action to pass this bill and send it to the President to make it the law of the land,” said Erich Mische, Executive Director of SAVE-Suicide Awareness Voices of Education.

“We applaud Senator Blumenthal for his leadership as well as the overwhelming number of Senators who supported and voted for this groundbreaking legislation. As advocates for children's health, online safety, and tech accountability, we're thrilled to see this day. Today’s vote is a huge win for holding companies like Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snap accountable and protecting America’s youth. In the face of fierce Big Tech lobbying, this victory shows the power of youth and parent advocates who pushed tirelessly for change. The Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act will shift responsibility to platforms, demanding that companies stop prioritizing engagement metrics and ad revenue over children’s well-being, and instead give young people and parents better controls and a safer online experience. Now, the House must act quickly. This is a public health crisis, and protecting young lives can't wait,” said Sacha Haworth, The Tech Oversight Project Executive Director.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics has long supported needed policies to make digital spaces healthier and safer for children and teens. Today’s Senate vote on the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act shows there is strong bipartisan resolve to protect our young people in the online spaces where they are spending more and more time. Pediatricians will continue to advocate for this bill’s swift passage into law,” said Benjamin Hoffman, MD, FAAP, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“This victory is a testament to the unwavering determination of parents who, despite the odds and the immense power of social media companies, stood up for our children’s safety. Over the past two years, an army of parents have joined this movement, signing petitions, making phone calls, sharing their stories with Congress.  Together, parents have shifted the narrative, raised expectations for what children deserve, and helped get this bill passed in the Senate. Now, we will turn our attention to the House of Representatives and, let’s be clear. Parents together will not be defeated. We will continue this fight until every child is safe online,” said Shelby Knox, Online Safety Director of ParentsTogether Action.

“Today is a milestone in the decades long effort to protect America’s young people from the harmful impacts caused by the out-of-control and unregulated social and digital media business model. The Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOSPA), if passed by the House and enacted into law, will safeguard children and teens from digital marketers who manipulate and employ unfair data-driven marketing tactics to closely surveil, profile, and target young people. These include an array of ever-expanding tactics that are discriminatory and unfair. The new law would protect children and teens being exposed to addictive algorithms and other harmful practices across online platforms, protecting the mental health and well-being of youth and their families,” said Katharina Kopp, Ph.D., Directory of Policy at the Center for Digital Democracy.

“Parents have been left on their own to try to fend off a massive tech-induced health crisis among today's tweens and teens from Big Tech's products that are engineered to be maximally addictive, as well as other dangers like criminals using social media to prey on children with the help of the platforms' algorithms. KOSA offers a much-needed solution to ensure parents have the ability to protect their kids online from harms to their safety, development, and mental health. KOSA will grant children and parents more control over children’s experiences on the platforms and what they see; and prevent tech companies from taking those choices away with their product design of automatic features and algorithms,” said Clare Morell, Head of the Technology and Human Flourishing program for the Ethics and Public Policy Center.