The Kids Online Safety Act, designed to protect children and teens from harmful content on social media, is under attack from Big Tech companies that have spent nearly $90 million on lobbying efforts to block the bill’s passage. The legislation, which passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support, faces strong opposition from powerful tech giants like Meta and Alphabet, who are working to prevent key provisions, such as the “duty of care,” from becoming law.
The bill, introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), would require social media companies to take responsibility for the harm caused by their platforms to minors, including mental health issues, addiction, and online exploitation. This “duty of care” provision, which would hold companies legally accountable for their role in creating unsafe online environments, has prompted Big Tech to launch an extensive lobbying campaign to protect their bottom lines.
Big Tech’s efforts have been successful in creating division in the House of Representatives, where both progressive and conservative lawmakers have been lobbied to oppose the bill. Progressives are concerned that the bill could lead to censorship of LGBTQ content, while conservatives worry about potential suppression of anti-abortion views. This division is exactly what Big Tech wants—an inability for Congress to come together to pass the bill.
In addition to the lobbying from Meta and Alphabet, non-tech companies like News Corp have also spent millions of dollars to influence the debate, further complicating the conversation. Meta, for its part, has pushed for parental consent requirements instead of holding companies accountable, a proposal many see as a way for Big Tech to avoid real responsibility for the safety of minors online.
Despite the opposition, the bill’s supporters, including parents who have lost children due to social media-related suicides, continue to push for its passage. These parents argue that the legislation is vital for protecting children from the dangers of social media and that Big Tech’s interests should not come before the safety and well-being of young users.
The outcome of this battle will determine whether Big Tech continues to wield significant influence over online regulation or whether lawmakers will prioritize the protection of children over corporate interests.
