South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined 31 other state Attorneys General in urging Congress to pass the bipartisan **Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)**, a proposed law aimed at protecting children from harmful online content and fostering a safer digital environment.
“It is time for Congress to join states like South Dakota to protect children on internet content,” Jackley said in a statement.
Key Provisions of KOSA
The legislation includes several measures designed to shield minors from online risks:
– Mandatory Default Safety Settings: Social media platforms would be required to enable their strongest safety protections for minors by default, eliminating the need for users to opt in manually.
– Addiction Prevention: The Act would allow young users and their parents to disable features designed to promote addictive behaviors, such as algorithm-driven endless scrolling.
– Parental Empowerment: KOSA would provide parents with enhanced tools to monitor and report harmful online content and behaviors, empowering them to better protect their children.
Growing Concerns About Social Media’s Impact
Jackley’s call comes as states, including South Dakota, are pursuing legal action against platforms like Meta and TikTok, accusing them of contributing to a youth mental health crisis. Studies show that minors spend an average of more than five hours daily online, often exposed to harmful or addictive content.
“These platforms profit from making their products addictive and targeting minors with tailored content that can negatively affect mental health,” the Attorneys General wrote in a letter to Congress. Evidence suggests many companies are aware of these harms but fail to address them, they added.
A Unified Effort Across States
Attorneys General from 31 other states and territories, including Alabama, New York, and Wyoming, signed the letter in support of KOSA. They emphasized the importance of federal action to complement state efforts to hold social media companies accountable.
“This legislation represents a significant step toward creating a safer online environment for children,” the letter stated. “We respectfully encourage Congress to pass KOSA this year.”
The bipartisan push for KOSA reflects widespread agreement that stronger safeguards are necessary to address the growing threats posed by social media to young users.
By: Montana Newsroom staff
