Should online platforms have a legal "duty of care" to protect kids from harmful design?
The Kids Online Safety Act (S. 1748) would require covered online platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent and reduce harms to minors from features that maximize their engagement. Supporters say it finally holds platforms accountable for designs that hurt kids; critics warn the "duty of care" could pressure platforms to over-censor lawful speech. Where do you stand?
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The case for
Parents and clinicians point to features engineered to maximize minors' time online and say platforms have faced little real accountability for the results. A duty of care would require companies to design with kids' safety in mind, turn on default protections, and give families more control, similar to safety obligations in other consumer industries.
Source: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (co-author and lead cosponsor, supports) →The case against
Civil-liberties groups argue the duty of care is triggered by categories of content, which turns it into a content-based rule that could push platforms to filter or remove lawful speech to avoid liability, including material that helps teens navigate mental health, sexuality, or recovery. They warn it could invite officials to target disfavored content and drive broad age-verification.
Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation (civil-liberties, opposes) →My Democracy doesn’t take a side — you choose your position below, and your message carries it. Sources represent one organization on each side; they don’t reflect My Democracy’s position.
This campaign is about this bill
S. 1748: Kids Online Safety ActWhat it does
Kids Online Safety ActThis bill requires covered online platforms, including social media platforms, to implement tools and safeguards to protect users and visitors under the age of 17. Covered platforms are online platforms, video games, messaging applications, or video streaming services used or likely to be used by individuals under the age of 17, with specified exceptions. The bill generally requires covered platforms to exercise reasonable care in the design and use of features that increase minors’ online activity in order to prevent and mitigate harm to minors (e.g., mental health
Latest action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2929-2930) (May 14, 2025)
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What’s your position?
Both sides are laid out above. Your message will carry your position — My Democracy doesn’t take a side.