Child online safety push gains traction in US and abroad
The House passed a child internet safety bill as a Pew survey found majority support for banning social media for users under 16.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Lawmakers and the public are showing stronger support for limits on children’s internet use, with new US legislation and polling pointing in the same direction. The debate matters because governments are weighing whether to restrict minors’ access to online services or require platforms to verify users’ ages.
The US House of Representatives passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act at the end of June, according to congressional records cited by The Verge. The measure is part of a broader wave of proposals aimed at child safety online.
Days later, Pew Research Center reported that more than half of US survey respondents supported banning social media for children under 16. The poll adds evidence of public backing for tougher rules on young users, though the exact form of those rules remains contested.
The Verge reported that several countries have begun requiring stricter age checks or bans for minors on some online services. Supporters of such measures argue that the internet can be addictive, harm children’s self-esteem and expose them to predators, according to the report.
The growing policy push has also revived discussion of alternatives to broad bans. The Verge framed one possible response as building a public internet designed for children, rather than leaving young users to rely on major commercial platforms or excluding them from online spaces altogether.
The available details do not specify which countries have adopted the new requirements or how the KIDS Act would be enforced. Still, the sequence of legislative action and polling shows that child safety online has become a leading issue for policymakers and parents.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.