This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Lawmakers in Washington are again turning their focus toward Big Tech’s role in protecting children online, as a key House committee advances a broad package of legislation targeting digital platforms. The effort could affect companies including Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), which operate or support major social media ecosystems used by millions of young users. The package, consisting of 12 bills, represents the committee’s most substantial move this year to address concerns around how online platforms may expose minors to harmful content, scams, drug sales and gambling. The proposal is moving forward with support from House Republican leadership, potentially clearing the way for a vote on the House floor.
At the center of the package is the Kids Online Safety Act, which would require social media platforms to introduce policies and tools designed to reduce risks faced by minors online. The measure would push companies to create safeguards around communication features and algorithm-driven content feeds while giving parents greater control over how children use these platforms. Lawmakers also approved a separate proposal that could require app store operators to authenticate users’ ages, a policy already adopted in more than 25 US states. In addition, the legislative package calls for government studies examining how social media may influence children’s mental health, whether platforms could play a role in minors gaining access to fentanyl, and how AI chatbots might affect younger users.
The legislation could face a more complex path in the Senate, where lawmakers remain divided over how far technology companies should be held responsible for harms involving minors. One key debate centers on whether platforms should carry a formal duty of care requirement to protect children online, a provision included in the Senate’s version of the Kids Online Safety Act but excluded from the House proposal. The policy discussion is unfolding as several European countries consider stricter measures, including potential bans on social media for users under 16, and as court cases involving Meta and YouTube examine claims linking social media use to mental health issues, with billions of dollars potentially tied to similar lawsuits.
