Statement of Kris Perry, Executive Director, Children and Screens, on Renewed Push for Stronger Online Protections for Children

Scientific evidence continues to mount, demonstrating the profound impact of digital environments on children’s mental health, sleep, cognitive development, and overall well-being. From exposure to harmful content to the addictive design of platforms that exploit children’s attention, the risks are real and urgent. Support for KOSA in the last Congress demonstrated a strong bipartisan commitment to children’s online safety and privacy, and this reintroduction signals continued momentum toward meaningful digital regulation to protect children. The bill’s longstanding sponsors – Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn – remain champions in the fight for a safer, healthier, online experience for children.

For too long, efforts to pass regulations like KOSA and COPPA 2.0 have faced intense opposition from leaders in the technology industry. The stakes are too high to allow profit to come before childhood safe from harms. We remain hopeful that this time will be different. Children and Screens has spent over a decade working behind the scenes to ensure that legislators, policymakers, advocates, and litigators have the research and evidence they need to push for meaningful change.

We remain committed to advancing strong, science-backed policies to protect children in digital spaces.