KOSMA: New Bill Aims to Restrict Children's Access to Social Media

Understanding the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA)

The Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) is an important legislative initiative aiming to protect children from potential dangers associated with social media. This act intends to restrict children under the age of 13 from creating social media accounts, focusing on addressing what many lawmakers describe as an "unprecedented mental health crisis" among young people.

Key Provisions of KOSMA

• Age Restrictions: The bill directly prevents kids under 13 from engaging on social media platforms.
• Algorithm Regulation: Companies will be restricted from using recommendation algorithms for users under 17.
• School Network Limitations: Schools are required to limit social media access on their networks.

Enforcement Mechanisms

To ensure compliance, KOSMA empowers the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general with the authority to enforce these rules, helping maintain a safer online environment for children.

Concerns About Age Verification

The approach of KOSMA in verifying ages does not mandate traditional forms of identification or parental consent, relying instead on platforms to use existing data to estimate user ages. Critics, including Kate Ruane from the Center for Democracy and Technology, argue that this method of age verification will likely lead to inaccuracies.

Support and Opposition

This bill has garnered significant attention, with support from lawmakers like Senators Brian Schatz and Ted Cruz, while facing pushback from organizations such as NetChoice, which represents major tech companies like Meta and Amazon. They argue that KOSMA could pose cybersecurity risks, undermine parental rights, and challenge constitutional rights.

The Legislation’s Context

KOSMA is positioned as a complementary measure to existing federal initiatives such as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), which were passed by the Senate in the previous year.

Conclusion

The Kids Off Social Media Act represents a crucial step towards reinforcing child safety online, albeit while igniting a debate about the implications for parental rights and the operations of social media companies. As discussions about children’s safety on the internet continue, the future of KOSMA remains a key focus for lawmakers in 2025 and beyond.

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