A group of parents who have lost children to suicide, fentanyl poisoning, and other social media-related tragedies have written to Congress opposing an amendment to H.R. 7891, the Kids Online Safety Act. They argue that the amendment weakens key protections by removing language that would require social media companies to implement safeguards against mental health harms such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal behaviors. These parents are urging lawmakers to restore the original Senate version of the bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, to hold social media companies accountable for protecting children.
FOUNDING ATTORNEY
“For three years, grieving parents have been working tirelessly to enact federal legislation to protect kids from suffering the fate that befell their children and families due to social media. 91 Senators voted for bipartisan legislation to provide these protections, and we are deeply disappointed that the House version of KOSA has gutted many of them. We urge the House to restore the Senate version and quickly pass legislation to protect our kids from the known harms of social media.”
As a law firm dedicated to advocating for online safety, we fully support these parents in their fight to protect children and teens from the dangers posed by social media platforms. The original Senate bill included essential protections by imposing a duty of care on these companies, which the House’s proposed amendments have unfortunately weakened. With alarming increases in teen suicides, opioid deaths, and mental health crises, the need for stronger legislation is clear.
We join the parents in calling on Congress to restore these vital protections and ensure that social media platforms are held responsible for safeguarding young users.
