U.S. Congress stalls on children’s social‑media safety legislation

Lawmakers in the United States are still divided over how to protect minors online. The Senate passed the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) with a duty‑of‑care requirement, but the measure stalled in the House. A later House package incorporated parts of KOSA but omitted the duty‑of‑care provision, and it now awaits Senate action. Critics argue that without the duty of care, platforms would lack a clear liability standard for harms such as suicide, sexual exploitation and addictive design.

Experts note enforcement challenges, including age‑verification technology that can be bypassed with VPNs. Civil‑liberties groups warn that the related Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act could compel companies to collect minors’ personal data, raising privacy and free‑speech concerns.

Globally, countries such as Australia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Norway and Spain have introduced or announced bans on social‑media use for users under 16. In Japan, a government working group rejected a blanket ban and instead recommended risk‑assessment requirements and stronger data‑protection rules for children’s online activity.