Senaor Young applauds Senate passage of Kids Online Safety Act

Tuesday, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) voted for the Kids Online Safety Act, bipartisan legislation that will protect children online and hold social media companies accountable. The legislation passed the Senate 91-3 and now heads to the House of Representatives 

Young joined Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) as an original cosponsor of the legislation.

“Hoosier parents are concerned about protecting their children online and want social media companies to do more to safeguard their platforms. Our bipartisan bill would require these companies to take new measures to protect children from harmful content and empower parents with additional tools to safeguard their children and protect their personal information. I encourage my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass this important legislation so that it can be signed into law,” said Senator Young.

The Kids Online Safety Act provides young people and parents with the tools, safeguards, and transparency they need to protect against online harms. The bill requires social media platforms to put the well-being of children first, ensuring an environment that is safe by default. The legislation requires independent audits by experts and academic researchers to ensure that social media platforms are taking meaningful steps to address risks to kids. 

The Kids Online Safety Act is also supported by hundreds of advocacy and technology groups, including Common Sense Media, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Compass, Eating Disorders Coalition, Fairplay, Mental Health America, and Digital Progress Institute.