U.S. Senator Katie Britt Fights to Update Outdated Legislation to Protect Kids on Social Media
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) recently introduced the Children and Teen’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) to update online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensure children and teenagers are protected online. COPPA 2.0 would stop the data practices fueling today’s youth mental health crisis.
“Keeping American families safe includes keeping our kids safe on the internet. Our country is in the throes of a mental health crisis, and the rise of social media usage among children and teenagers is inextricably tied to this problem,” said Senator Britt. “Putting in place updated, commonsense guardrails to protect kids from the dangers of social media and protect their privacy is a first step to stop our worsening mental health crisis.”
COPPA 2.0 aims to ban targeted advertising directed at children and teens. Additionally, it introduces an “Eraser Button,” which requires companies to allow users the capability to delete any personal information collected from children or teens.
“Every kid has an iPad or smartphone. They’re going to use the internet. Parents should be confident they can do it safely,” said Dr. Cassidy. “COPPA 2.0 is the tool that will give parents the peace of mind they need and keep their children’s personal information secure.”
This legislation also establishes data minimization rules to prevent the excessive collection of data from young users and closes existing loopholes that currently permit platforms to overlook the presence of children and teens on their services. COPPA 2.0 seeks to build on its predecessor by prohibiting internet companies from collecting personal information from users aged 13 to 16 without obtaining explicit consent.
“We need strong modern legislation that keeps pace with the ever-evolving digital landscape and creates a safer online environment by addressing the youth mental health crisis and protecting the personal information of our kids,” said Senator Markey. “Congress must finally pass my Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act to extend these protections to teenagers, block targeted advertising to kids and teens, and give parents of young people an eraser button to protect them from predatory data collection practices.”
Recently, Senator Britt spoke on the floor highlighting decades of congressional inaction saying,“While social media companies have taken some steps, it is clear that there is work for Congress to do. The last time a United States president signed a major piece of legislation addressing children and the internet was, wait for it, 1998. Almost 30 years ago, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act was signed into law. For reference, at that time that the law was signed, MySpace didn’t even exist. It’s time for an update and there is a clear place to start.”
As a mom of school-aged kids, Senator Britt has made addressing America’s youth mental health crisis a key policy focus over the past two years. In addition to introducing multiple pieces of bipartisan legislation protecting children and teens on social media, she has voted in support of other bills to empower parents and hold platforms accountable and joined her colleagues in repeatedly calling for action to discuss the harmful impacts of social media.
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