ParentsSOS Return to Capitol Hill To Demand Congressional Action on Kids’ Online Safety, 100 Days After Mark Zuckerberg’s Apology
Advocates Urge Leadership to Advance KOSA Without Delay
Washington, DC – May 8, 2024 – Today, parents and advocates from ParentsSOS (Parents for Safe Online Spaces) held a press conference on Capitol Hill to urge Congress to advance the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) as quickly as possible. The event came almost 100 days after Mark Zuckerberg’s historic apology to parents concerning online child safety, but with little action taken since then. The parents who spoke at today’s press conference were in the Senate hearing room when Zuckerberg made that apology.
Maurine Molak, co-founder of ParentsSOS and mother of David Molak, 16, who died by suicide after vicious cyberbullying stated, “KOSA is the single strongest bill introduced in the last quarter century when it comes to protecting children online. KOSA will save lives. Had it been law when David was alive, I know he would still be here with me today. We’re so close–let’s get this done. PASS KOSA NOW.”
An increasing body of evidence demonstrates that many online platforms are designed in ways to expose young people to harmful content that creates negative body images, incites bullying and other damaging behaviors like substance use, can lead to self-harm and suicidal behaviors, promotes addictive use patterns, and pushes products that are especially unsafe for children. KOSA will address these challenges by requiring online platforms to prioritize children’s safety, enhance transparency, and empower parents and guardians in protecting their families.
Mary Rodee, mother of Riley Basford, 15, who died by suicide after being sexually extorted on Facebook expressed, “I simply cannot sit back, do nothing, and let this happen to any other family. Especially when the cause is so clear: Big Tech’s business model, which is simply toxic. If KOSA were law, it would have saved my son’s life.”
KOSA has made significant progress with 70 senators now signed on to support the bill; it advanced out of the Commerce Committee 10 months ago. The legislation counts on bipartisan support in the House, and has been introduced and heard. KOSA is both enormously popular and has been vetted extensively – parents now demand that Congress move forward by any means necessary to prioritize kids’ safety, including as an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization act now advancing through Congress.
Christine McComas, mother of Grace McComas, 15, who died by suicide after relentless cyberbullying, emphasized, “KOSA is so important, so desperately needed, because it actually responds to the online world as it is now. KOSA really does make social media companies liable for their products and the way they affect our children. If it is passed, this legislation will for the first time create meaningful protections for young people who use social media.”
Julianna Arnold, mother of Coco Konar, 17, who died of fentanyl poisoning after buying counterfeit percocet online that was laced with the deadly substance, highlighted, “We need policy reform and laws to protect our children. We’re no match on our own for the machine that is Big Tech. So, I am here too, to round out the chorus with these other survivor parents, urging our leaders in DC to finally help us help our children. KOSA is the way forward.”
Speakers concluded with an appeal to Congressional leaders to heed the growing chorus of supporters that demand action on KOSA today.
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