Kids Online Safety Act
House Committee Reviews Kids Online Safety Act, Targeting Social Media Dangers for Minors Under 17
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
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.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Small businesses that operate social media platforms or apps meeting the bill's definition of 'covered platform' would face new compliance costs, including implementing safety tools, parental controls, reporting mechanisms, and annual third-party audits. However, the bill does account for differences in platform size and complexity when determining what's 'reasonable.' Most small businesses that simply use social media for marketing would not be directly affected, but smaller platform operators could face significant new burdens.
Disabilities
Activities
Milestones
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 13 - 10.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Kids Online Safety Act
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.