The Senate is expected to pass legislation that aims to protect children from harmful online content, marking the first major effort by Congress in decades to hold tech companies more accountable. The bill, which has bipartisan support, was pushed by parents of children who died by suicide due to online bullying. It would require companies to take steps to prevent harm on platforms frequently used by minors and ensure they default to the safest settings possible. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn wrote the bill with the goal of giving children, teens, and parents more control over their online lives.
While the House has not yet acted on the bill, Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed interest in finding consensus. A strong vote in the Senate, with an 86-1 test vote moving the bill forward, may push the House to take action. If the bill becomes law, companies will be mandated to mitigate harm to children, including bullying, violence, suicide promotion, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and advertisements for illegal products like narcotics, tobacco, or alcohol. Social media platforms would have to provide minors with options to protect their information, disable addictive features, and opt out of personalized algorithmic recommendations.
Additionally, companies would need to limit interactions between children and other users, as well as features that encourage prolonged platform use, such as autoplay for videos. The legislation aims to address concerns about the negative impact of social media on young users and provide safeguards to protect them from harmful content. By imposing a duty of care on tech companies, the bill seeks to restore trust in online platforms and empower users to make informed decisions about their online experiences.
Supporters of the bill hope that its passage in the Senate will encourage the House to take action and further strengthen protections for children online. By requiring tech companies to prioritize the safety and well-being of minors, the legislation seeks to create a safer and more responsible online environment for young users. With the widespread bipartisan support for the bill and the growing recognition of the need to address the impact of harmful online content, there is optimism that the legislation will lead to meaningful changes in how tech companies operate and protect children online.
