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119-s-1748119th CongressWALLET

Kids Online Safety Act

Sponsored By: Senator Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

In Committee

Summary

Require covered online platforms to exercise reasonable care in design and use of features to prevent and mitigate harms to minors. The bill would also push clearer algorithm transparency, parental controls, independent audits for very large platforms, and enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.

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  • Families and parents: Platforms would need parental tools to manage minor privacy and accounts, restrict purchases, offer an electronic point of contact, and face limits on market research on children under 13 and on minors under 17 without verifiable parental consent.
  • Minors' safety: Platforms would owe a duty to prevent harms tied to design features, including eating disorders, substance use disorders, suicidal behavior, extreme harassment, sexual exploitation, gambling and patterns of compulsive use. Platforms must provide reporting mechanisms and multilingual accessibility tied to platform size.
  • Platforms and oversight: Platforms averaging more than 10 million U.S. monthly active users would file annual, third-party audit reports on minor access, time spent, safeguards, and recommendation systems. Opaque algorithms that use user-specific data would require clear notice and an easy switch to an input-transparent option. Enforcement would follow the FTC Act with specified state enforcement powers.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Stronger parental controls for kids

If enacted, platforms would have to give parents easy tools for accounts they know are minors. Tools must let parents view and (for under-13s) change privacy and account settings, stop purchases, and set time limits. Defaults for known minors must be the most protective and platforms could not use dark patterns to hide controls. Platforms must give clear notices before a child signs up and explain how recommendation systems use minor data. Platforms must also provide a way to report harms and respond quickly (10 days for very large platforms, 21 days for smaller platforms). These rules would take effect 18 months after enactment.

Annual audits for very large platforms

If enacted, covered platforms with more than 10,000,000 average monthly U.S. users that mainly host community forums would have to publish annual public reports based on independent third-party audits. Reports must show counts of known minor users, median and mean time minors spend (daily/weekly/monthly), language breakdowns, design features that increase minor usage, data used for recommendations, and mitigation steps. Audits must protect privacy with de-identified, aggregated reporting. This requirement would start 18 months after enactment.

Clear algorithm notices and choice

If enacted, one year after enactment platforms using opaque recommendation algorithms would have to give a clear, conspicuous notice the first time a user encounters them. Platforms would have to explain in simple terms the inputs, inferences, and what the system optimizes, and let users easily switch to an input-transparent option. Platforms could not charge or refuse service based on a user's algorithm choice. For school contracts that comply with privacy laws, the notice and opt-out may be given to the school instead of each student.

Federal study, guidance, and council

If enacted, the Secretary of Commerce, the FCC, and the FTC would study device- and operating-system level age verification methods and report to Congress within one year. The FTC would have to publish practical guidance within 18 months on problematic design features, parental tools, and age inference methods. The bill would also create an 11-member Kids Online Safety Council with appointments due within 180 days, an interim report within 1 year of its first meeting, and a final report within 3 years.

Limits on research and ads to kids

If enacted, platforms would be banned from showing ads for narcotics, cannabis, tobacco, gambling, or alcohol to users the platform knows are minors. Platforms could not do market- or product-focused research on users they know are under 13. For users aged 13 to 17, such research would require verifiable parental consent under COPPA. These rules would take effect 18 months after enactment.

New platform duties and enforcement

If enacted, covered platforms would have to exercise reasonable care to prevent foreseeable harms to minors, including self-harm, eating disorders, sexual exploitation, severe harassment, addiction-like patterns, and financial harms. The FTC would enforce these provisions as unfair or deceptive acts under the FTC Act and could use its normal remedies. State attorneys general could sue for certain violations after notifying the FTC, but they could not bring cases based on the duty-of-care claim. The Act would preempt state law only when it directly conflicts and would allow states to pass stronger protections.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

TN • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2025

  • Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]

    SD • R

    Sponsored 5/14/2025

  • Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]

    ND • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2025

  • Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 6/23/2025

  • Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 6/23/2025

  • Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 7/8/2025

  • Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]

    ME • R

    Sponsored 7/16/2025

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 7/16/2025

  • Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 7/16/2025

  • Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 7/16/2025

  • Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 7/31/2025

  • Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/18/2025

  • Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

    ME • I

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]

    ND • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

  • Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/16/2025

  • Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 10/16/2025

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/23/2025

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 11/10/2025

  • Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 11/10/2025

  • Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 12/1/2025

  • Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 12/2/2025

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]

    AR • R

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 1/8/2026

  • Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

  • Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 2/3/2026

  • Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 6/2/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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