The Kids Online Safety Act Is Back in 2025 – Everything You Need to Know
Published: May 19, 2025
In 2025, the Kids Online Safety Act is back in the spotlight with renewed urgency. The bill aims to make the internet safer for children and teens and has received bipartisan support and endorsements from major technology companies like Apple and Snap.
As concerns about the mental health effects of social media continue to grow, lawmakers and advocacy groups are pushing hard to pass this legislation.
At the same time, digital rights organizations are raising alarms about privacy, censorship, and unintended consequences.
This article will explain the act’s proposals, who supports and opposes it, and why it matters now more than ever.
What Is the Kids Online Safety Act?
The Kids Online Safety Act, known as KOSA, was a federal bill introduced in 2022.
It was created to give children and their parents more control over how digital platforms interact with minors.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (Republican, Tennessee) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, Connecticut) spearheaded the act.
The legislation aims to reduce children’s exposure to harmful or addictive online content and requires platforms to prioritize children’s safety and well-being in their product design and content recommendations.
What Does the Bill Propose?
Under the Kids Online Safety Act, online platforms that are likely to be used by minors would be required to:
- Act in the best interests of minors by preventing and mitigating harms such as eating disorders, online bullying, and sexual exploitation.
- Offer tools for parents and minors to opt out of algorithmic content recommendations.
- Disable addictive features like autoplay and endless scroll by default for minor users.
- Provide transparency reports detailing the harms their platforms may cause to minors.
- Implement robust privacy settings by default for all users under 17.
- Offer clear and accessible tools for minors and parents to control their online experience.
- Parents can track time spent on platforms and control the features their children use.
Enforcement would fall under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys’ responsibility, giving federal and state governments the authority to act against violations.
Why Is the Bill Back in 2025?
The resurgence of the Kids Online Safety Act comes in response to increasing public concern about the mental health crisis among children and teens.
Reports and testimonies in recent years have linked excessive social media use with anxiety, depression, body image issues, and disrupted sleep patterns in young users.
High-profile incidents and whistleblower reports, such as the Facebook Papers in 2021, have added fuel to the conversation, revealing how some platforms prioritize engagement over safety—even when they know it might harm younger users.
In 2025, lawmakers are pushing harder than ever to move the bill forward, hoping to pass meaningful regulation in a space that has been self-governed mainly for years.
Who Supports the Kids Online Safety Act?
The bill has gained support from a wide range of stakeholders:
- Senators from both parties, including the original sponsors, see the legislation as a common-sense step to protect future generations.
- Tech companies like Apple and Snap have publicly endorsed the bill, noting that it provides a clear and balanced framework for improving child safety online.
- Child advocacy groups such as Fairplay, ParentsTogether, and Design It For Us support the bill’s objectives, especially its efforts to curb harmful content and addictive features.
- Many parents, educators, and mental health experts back the legislation, citing the need for stronger tools and accountability in the tech industry.
What Are the Concerns and Criticisms?
Despite its good intentions, the bill has raised significant concerns among civil liberties groups and some technologists.
- Privacy Concerns: Critics argue that platforms may need to identify the ages of all users to comply with the law, which could lead to increased data collection and tracking. Without strong safeguards, this could create more privacy risks, especially for children.
- Free Speech Risks: The bill uses broad language about protecting minors from harmful content. Some worry this could lead to over-censorship, where platforms block access to valuable information, including resources on mental health, gender identity, or sexual education, under the guise of “protecting children.”
- Age Verification Challenges: Although the bill does not mandate age verification, critics say companies may feel forced to implement invasive age checks to avoid legal risk. This could mean requiring government IDs or facial recognition, which raises its own set of privacy and accessibility issues.
- State-Level Enforcement and Political Influence: The bill gives state attorneys general significant power to enforce the law. Opponents argue this could lead to politically motivated enforcement where content is removed not because it is harmful, but because it is controversial or unpopular in certain states.
- Impact on Marginalized Communities: Advocacy groups have raised concerns that content aimed at helping LGBTQ+ youth, or those dealing with mental health challenges, could be flagged or suppressed by overly cautious platforms trying to avoid penalties.
What Many Outlets Haven’t Covered
While many news stories focus on the main goals of the bill, some crucial issues have been overlooked:
- The bill does not provide a private right of action. Under this law, individuals cannot sue platforms directly—only government agencies can.
- Critics have pointed out that the bill may create a chilling effect, where platforms proactively take down large amounts of content to avoid being penalized, even when that content is safe or educational.
- KOSA does not address newer digital technologies like generative AI, virtual reality, or decentralized platforms, which raises questions about how the bill will apply to the next wave of digital experiences.
There is also concern that this law could disproportionately affect small startups or non-profit platforms, which may lack the legal and technical resources to comply.
How Are Tech Companies Reacting?
Reactions have varied across the industry. Apple and Snap have strongly supported the legislation, suggesting it aligns with their focus on safety and privacy.
Other companies have not taken a clear position, but many are closely watching the bill’s progress.
Some companies have raised concerns about implementation.
They want clarity on what the bill expects from them, especially around vague terms like “harm” or “best interests.” Several platforms also worry about how enforcement will vary from one state to another.
What Happens Next?
The Kids Online Safety Act has been reintroduced in the Senate. Lawmakers hope that with greater public support and industry buy-in, the bill will pass this year.
However, changes and amendments may still occur as the bill moves through committees and debates.
A companion bill in the House of Representatives could follow, increasing the chances of nationwide implementation.
If the law passes, it would significantly shift how the federal government regulates social media and other online platforms young people use.
Final Thoughts
The Kids Online Safety Act aims to solve a growing problem: how to keep children safe on the internet.
Its supporters believe it offers a solid framework for better protections and greater accountability for tech platforms.
However, the bill also presents real challenges around privacy, free expression, and implementation.
Finding the right balance between protecting children and preserving digital freedoms will be essential.
As the debate continues in Congress, one thing is sure—public pressure is mounting, and the call for safer, more responsible technology is only getting stronger.
FAQs
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is a U.S. Senate bill designed to protect minors on social media and other online platforms. It requires tech companies to create safer digital environments for children and teens. The bill focuses on reducing harmful content, improving privacy controls, and increasing parental oversight.
KOSA requires online platforms to act in the best interest of minors by limiting exposure to harmful content and disabling addictive features. It includes tools for parents to monitor and control their children’s online activities. The law would also force companies to allow users to opt out of algorithm-based content.
KOSA has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support. While it passed the Senate in the past, it faced delays in the House due to concerns about free speech. Lawmakers are currently working on adjustments to the bill to address these criticisms and move it forward.
Supporters include tech companies like Apple and Snap and child safety groups like Fairplay and ParentsTogether. They believe KOSA is a strong step toward protecting kids from online risks. Opponents, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the ACLU, worry it could lead to censorship and harm free expression online.
Critics argue that the bill’s broad language could result in over-moderation of content, especially information about marginalized groups. There are also privacy concerns, as enforcing age checks may require intrusive data collection. Free speech advocates fear the law could unintentionally suppress helpful or essential content.
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- Be Respectful
- Stay Relevant
- Stay Positive
- True Feedback
- Encourage Discussion
- Avoid Spamming
- No Fake News
- Don't Copy-Paste
- No Personal Attacks
