Kids Online Safety Act

Key Points

• This bill requires social media apps and websites to protect users under age 17 from specific dangers, including physical violence, sexual abuse, and the promotion of drugs, tobacco, or gambling. Companies would have to create clear policies to stop these harms from reaching young users.
• Platforms would be required to turn on the highest privacy and safety settings by default for minors. This includes limiting features like auto-playing videos and "infinite scrolling" that are designed to keep kids on the app for as long as possible.
• Parents would get new tools to manage their children's accounts. For kids under 13, these tools would be turned on automatically, allowing parents to see how much time is spent on the app, block purchases, and control who can message their child.
• Social media companies would have to provide a dedicated way for users to report online harms. They would be required to respond to these reports within 10 days, or even faster if there is an immediate threat to a child's safety.
• To ensure companies are following the law, they must undergo independent audits every year. These audits will check how many minors use the platform and how well the company's safety tools are actually working.
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state officials would have the power to fine companies that fail to protect kids. If passed, most of these rules would start being enforced 18 months later.