New Senate Bills Aim to Safeguard Children Online: What Parents Need to Know

While the internet offers opportunities for learning and connection, it also exposes kids to risks—cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and the exploitation of their privacy. A survey by Internet matters dot org shows that 63% of parents believe online time negatively affects their children’s health, while 67% of children surveyed report having experienced online harm, a disturbing statistic. The stakes are high, and more must be done to ensure internet safety for our young minds.

To address these challenges, on July 30, the U.S. Senate passed a legislative package that includes the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) with an overwhelming 91-3 vote. These acts have been in development for years. Advocates, including parents who have tragically lost their children to issues like suicide, drug use, and viral challenges, have been vocal about the urgent need for stronger protections for kids and teens on social media. These bills are designed to create a safer digital environment for children, holding tech companies accountable while giving parents more control over their children’s online experiences. 

But legislation alone isn’t enough—parents must also play an active role in safeguarding their children’s online activities. Tools like Mobicip make it easier for families to take charge, offering features that help monitor, filter, and protect kids as they explore the digital world.

Overview of the New Senate Bills

KOSA focuses on protecting users under the age of 17, requiring social media platforms and tech companies to implement stronger safety measures. This includes providing more robust parental controls and taking responsibility for mitigating the potential harm children may encounter on their platforms. It also mandates that companies offer transparency in their practices and provide tools for parents to effectively manage their children’s online activities.

COPPA 2.0, an updated version of the original Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, seeks to bolster privacy protections for kids and teens. It introduces stricter regulations for how companies collect and handle the personal data of users under 17. Notably, COPPA 2.0 prohibits targeted advertising to minors and includes a provision for an “eraser button,” allowing parents and children to delete personal information from online platforms.

Key Provisions of the Bills

Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)

KOSA introduces important requirements for platforms children might use, like social networks and other online applications. Here are the main features of the bill:

• Design and Operation Standards: Platforms must take reasonable steps in how they design and operate their services to prevent issues such as sexual exploitation and online bullying.

• Minors’ Safeguards: Platforms must provide certain protections for minors, including settings that limit access to their personal data.

• Tools for Parents: Parents and guardians will have access to tools to supervise their children’s activities on the platform, including controlling privacy settings and account management.

• Transparency and Disclosure: Covered platforms must share important information, such as:
  • How they use personalized recommendation systems and ads targeted at minors.
  • Ways for parents, guardians, minors, and schools to report harmful online content.

• Advertising Restrictions: Platforms are prohibited from showing ads for age-restricted products, like tobacco and gambling, to minors.

• Annual Risk Reporting: Platforms must provide yearly reports outlining potential risks of harm to minors from using their services.

• Algorithm Transparency: Large platforms that use algorithms to prioritize information based on user data must:
  • Notify users that these algorithms are in use.
  • Offer a platform version that doesn’t use user data for prioritization.

• Enforcement and Oversight: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state authorities will enforce the bill. It also calls for the FTC to work with the National Academy of Sciences to study risks to minors from social media and other online platforms.

• Advisory Council: An advisory council will be established to help implement the bill. The bill also includes guidance for market and product research focused on minors and evaluations of methods to verify user ages. 

Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0)

COPPA 2.0 aims to create a safer online environment for children and teens, ensuring their privacy and protecting them from harmful practices. Here are the main features of COPPA 2.0:

• Ban on data collection: Online companies are prohibited from collecting personal information from users under 17 years old without obtaining explicit consent from parents or guardians.

• Targeted advertising restrictions: The bill bans targeted advertising aimed at children and teens, preventing companies from using their data to market products directly to young users.

• Eraser button feature: COPPA 2.0 introduces an “eraser button” that allows parents and kids to delete personal information collected online, giving them greater control over their digital footprint.

• Creation of a youth marketing and privacy division: The legislation establishes a dedicated Youth Marketing and Privacy Division at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to oversee and enforce these protections.

• Collaboration and support: Senator Cantwell, who has consistently supported data privacy protections, collaborated with various stakeholders, including parents whose children have faced harm online, to strengthen the bill and secure its passage.

The Impact of Inappropriate Content on Children

The internet exposes children to all sorts of inappropriate content, from violence and sexual material to substance abuse and hate speech. While the online world offers valuable resources, harmful content can lead to significant negative impacts. Parents, educators, and caregivers need to understand these effects as they navigate kids’ digital experiences.

Physical impacts

• Sleep disruption: Late-night scrolling can seriously mess with sleep. The blue light from screens and distressing content can make it challenging for kids to fall asleep and maintain a healthy sleep cycle.
• Increased risk-taking behaviors: Those risky online challenges? They can lead to serious injuries. Kids might feel pressured to join in on dangerous stunts or substance use.

Psychological impacts

• Desensitization to violence: Constant exposure to violent content can desensitize kids, leading to increased aggression and less empathy for others.
• Normalization of self-harm: Seeing content about self-harm can make these behaviors feel normal, raising the risk for vulnerable kids.
• Anxiety and depression: Inappropriate content can amplify anxiety and depression as kids struggle with negative feelings stemming from what they see online.

Emotional impacts

• Body image issues: Social media often showcases idealized images, leading to unhealthy comparisons and body dissatisfaction, especially among girls.
• Low self-esteem: Kids may feel inadequate when they compare themselves to curated online lives, resulting in low self-esteem.
• Emotional instability: Exposure to harmful content can heighten emotional sensitivity, leading to mood swings and irritability.

Social impacts

• Isolation and loneliness: Negative online experiences can make kids withdraw from real-life interactions, increasing feelings of isolation.
• Impaired relationships: Online bullying and hate speech can damage their ability to form healthy relationships, as negative behaviors become normalized.
• Peer pressure: Kids might feel compelled to engage in risky behaviors for peer approval, creating a cycle of negative actions that threaten their well-being. 

How the Bills Aim to Address Online Harm

Both the KOSA and COPPA 2.0 bills are significant steps toward creating a safer digital environment for children. Here’s how they plan to make the online world a better place for our kids:

• Safer online spaces: Both bills focus on reducing children’s exposure to harmful content online. This means stricter guidelines are put in place to prevent minors from encountering inappropriate material like violence, hate speech, or substance abuse while browsing the internet.

• Stronger privacy protections: COPPA 2.0 introduces more robust privacy rules, especially for users under 17. Online companies are prohibited from collecting personal information without explicit parental consent. This is an important step in safeguarding children’s privacy. The bill also bans targeted advertising aimed at minors, minimizing the chances that children will see harmful ads that could negatively influence them.

• Built-in safety settings: One of the standout features of KOSA is that it requires online platforms to enable the most protective settings for minors automatically. This means that when children access these platforms, they are already shielded from harmful content by default, reducing the chances of accidental exposure.

• Taking a comprehensive approach to online safety: KOSA establishes a duty of care for Tech companies, requiring them to take proactive measures against dangers such as cyberbullying and hate speech. The bill also encourages companies to develop features that allow minors to disable addictive aspects of their products and opt-out of personalized recommendations, which can sometimes lead to damaging behaviors.

• Empowering parents: Both bills give parents new tools to keep track of their children’s online activities. For instance, KOSA allows parents to access information about the data collected from their kids, and they can request that this information be deleted using a feature known as the “eraser button.” This empowers parents to take an active role in managing their child’s online experience.

• The role of tech companies: The success of these bills hinges on tech companies stepping up to implement these measures. They’ll need to create safer online environments and ensure compliance with the new regulations. By holding companies accountable, the bills aim to foster a culture of responsibility in the tech industry.

• Dedicated oversight: COPPA 2.0 establishes a Youth Marketing and Privacy Division within the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ensure these protections are enforced. This division will monitor compliance with the new rules, investigate violations, and hold companies accountable for practices that could harm children. 

The Role of Parents in Ensuring Online Safety

How can we, as parents and caregivers, help protect our children from the harmful impacts of online content? Here are several key strategies we can implement to enhance our children’s online safety:

Open communication: Establishing open lines of communication is fundamental. We should encourage our children to share their online experiences and feelings, creating a supportive environment where they feel comfortable discussing troubling content or interactions. 

Setting boundaries and guidelines: It is essential to set clear boundaries regarding internet usage, including time limits and the types of content our children can access. Establishing guidelines for appropriate online behavior and discussing the risks associated with certain activities empower our children to make safer choices. 

Utilizing parental control tools: Leveraging tools like Mobicip can significantly enhance online safety. These tools allow us to monitor our children’s online activities, filter inappropriate content, and set screen time limits. 

Educating about digital hygiene: Teaching our children digital literacy is another vital aspect of online safety. We should educate them on the importance of privacy, the potential consequences of sharing personal information, and the impact of social media on mental health. 

Being role models: Our influence on children’s online behavior is significant. We set a positive example by modeling responsible internet usage ourselves—limiting our screen time, being cautious about sharing personal information, and engaging with digital content critically.

Staying informed and engaged: Finally, staying informed about the latest trends, apps, and potential risks in the digital world is important. By actively engaging with our children’s online interests and remaining aware of emerging threats, we can address concerns proactively and adapt our approach to online safety as needed. 

How Mobicip Can Help Parents

The Mobicip parental control app offers several features that align with the goals of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0). Here’s how each feature contributes to enhancing children’s safety and privacy:

• Content filtering: Mobicip’s advanced content filtering allows parents to block inappropriate websites and apps, ensuring that children are protected from harmful content like violence, substance abuse, and explicit material. This aligns with KOSA’s mandate for platforms to implement measures that protect minors from various online harms.

• Screen time management: The screen time limits feature enables parents to set specific time allowances for daily device use. By managing screen time, parents can help reduce the risks associated with excessive internet use, such as sleep disruptions and increased risk-taking behaviors, as emphasized in both KOSA and COPPA 2.0.

• Social media monitoring: Mobicip provides tools for monitoring children’s social media activity, allowing parents to stay informed about their children’s online interactions. This helps with the prevention of cyberbullying and hate speech, which KOSA seeks to combat by requiring online platforms to create safer environments for minors.

• Privacy controls: Mobicip helps parents understand and manage the data collected about their children while using online platforms. This feature supports COPPA 2.0’s focus on protecting children’s personal information by informing parents about what data is collected and how it can be controlled.

• Usage reports: The app generates detailed usage reports that give parents insights into their children’s online behavior. This transparency helps parents identify potential risks or concerning patterns, empowering them to take appropriate action in line with the proactive safety measures outlined in KOSA.

• Device control: Mobicip allows parents to lock or limit device access remotely, giving them control over when and how their children use their devices. This feature supports KOSA’s aim to create safer digital environments by enabling parents to enforce boundaries that prevent exposure to harmful content.

By incorporating these features, Mobicip helps parents safeguard their children in line with KOSA and COPPA 2.0 and fosters a healthier online experience for young users.

Conclusion

Ensuring safety for children online is a crucial priority for parents, educators, and lawmakers alike. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) are significant steps toward creating a safer digital environment. By equipping parents with essential parental control tools and promoting social media safety, these laws aim to enhance online privacy for children and combat harmful online content.

Tech companies have a duty of care to protect young users, making it imperative to implement measures for screen time limits, content filtering, and cyberbullying prevention. Tools like the Mobicip parental control app empower families in their digital parenting journey, ensuring that internet safety for kids remains a shared responsibility. Together, we can foster a secure online experience that prioritizes the well-being of our children.

FAQs

What are the main objectives of the new Senate bills?

The main objectives of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) are to enhance online safety and privacy for children and teens. KOSA aims to create a safer digital environment by imposing stricter regulations on social media platforms to protect minors from harmful content, cyberbullying, and exploitation. COPPA 2.0 focuses on increasing privacy protections for children under 17 by regulating the collection of personal information and banning targeted advertising aimed at minors.

How can parents control their children’s online activities?

Parents can control their children’s online activities through various tools and features available in apps like Mobicip. These include content filtering to block inappropriate websites and apps, screen time management to set usage limits, and social media and online monitoring to keep track of interactions. Parents can also use privacy controls to manage the data collected about their children and review usage reports to identify potential risks.

What is the “eraser button” feature in COPPA 2.0?

The “eraser button” feature in COPPA 2.0 allows parents to request the deletion of their children’s personal information collected by online platforms. This feature empowers parents to take control of their children’s data by ensuring that companies must comply with these requests, promoting a higher standard of privacy protection for minors.

How do these bills affect social media companies?

These bills impose new responsibilities on social media companies to ensure the safety and privacy of young users. Under KOSA, companies are required to implement protective measures to shield minors from harmful content and negative interactions. COPPA 2.0 mandates stricter rules for data collection, requiring companies to obtain explicit consent from parents before collecting personal information from children under 17. Overall, these bills hold social media companies accountable for their practices and promote safer online environments for minors.