If you dont like the idea of digital ID, its being backdoored into law right now in many states using "we must protect the children" laws... They are also doing this at the federal level as well. Parents already have the tools needed to protect their children from harmful content on their digital devices, but its easy to pass stuff if you make people scared and convince them its necessary. This stinks like the patriot act did back after 911. Too bad the public is easily tricked into giving up freedom for 'safety'... Remember, theres no way to protect children at the governmental level without infringing on everyone's rights and privacy!
As of March 9, 2026, Congress is actively advancing several federal bills aimed at protecting children and teens online, focusing on privacy, safety from harms (like addiction, exploitation, bullying, and self-harm), age restrictions, and data collection limits. These build on the existing Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) from 1998, which primarily covers kids under 13.The most prominent efforts include bipartisan privacy updates and broader safety packages, though progress differs between the Senate (more bipartisan momentum on privacy) and the House (Republican-led packages with partisan divides over scope, preemption of state laws, and "duty of care" requirements).Key Federal Legislation in Progress
- Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) — S.836 (Senate) / H.R.6291 (House companion)
- Purpose: Updates and expands the original COPPA to cover minors under 17 (not just under 13). It bans targeted advertising to children/teens, requires data minimization, prohibits collecting sensitive info from 13-16 without consent, adds an "eraser button" for deleting data, and strengthens parental tools/privacy defaults.
- Status: Passed the Senate unanimously by consent on March 5, 2026 (major bipartisan win, sponsored by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)). It now heads to the House, where a version advanced through subcommittee but faces hurdles in the broader package debates.
- This is seen as the most significant privacy-focused update in decades.
- Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) — S.1748 (Senate) / H.R.6484 (House)
- Purpose: Imposes requirements on platforms (social media, games, messaging, streaming) likely used by minors under 17 to implement safety tools, parental controls, default privacy settings, and measures to mitigate specific harms (e.g., anxiety, depression, eating disorders, bullying, addiction-like behaviors, exploitation). The Senate version includes a stronger "duty of care" for platforms to prevent/mitigate harms.
- Status: Reintroduced in 2025; Senate version has broad bipartisan support (75+ co-sponsors) but hasn't advanced to floor vote yet (stalled in committee under current leadership). House version incorporated into a larger package (see below) with modifications that critics say weaken it (e.g., no full duty of care, broad preemption of state laws). Advanced through subcommittee in late 2025.
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act — H.R.7757
- Purpose: A comprehensive Republican-led House package (introduced March 2026) combining multiple bills, including elements of KOSA, plus requirements for harm policies, third-party safety audits, harm reporting tools, AI chatbot disclosures (not human), restrictions on geolocation/sharing, and more. It aims to protect against violence, exploitation, and other risks while empowering parents.
- Status: Advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 5, 2026 (28-24 partisan vote, mostly along party lines). Democrats criticized it for diluting KOSA (weaker than Senate version), broad preemption risking state laws, and other restrictions. Now headed to potential full House floor vote.
- Other Notable Bills
- Kids Off Social Media Act (S.278 / House companion): Bipartisan; prohibits social media accounts for under-13s (platforms must remove/delete data), with some teen restrictions. Introduced/introduced companion in February 2026.
- STOP CSAM Act (S.1829): Focuses on combating child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) online via tech industry transparency, reporting to CyberTipline, and victim support. Advanced in Senate Judiciary Committee.
- App Store Accountability Act and related: Shifts age verification/consent to app stores (e.g., parental approval for minors' downloads/purchases).
- Additional measures address sextortion, violent networks coercing kids, and specific harms (e.g., Sammy's Law, SCREEN Act for age gating harmful content).
- Momentum surged in early 2026 amid public pressure from parents, advocates, and evidence of social media's mental health impacts.
- Senate shows stronger bipartisan progress on privacy (COPPA 2.0 passage), while House pushes broader safety rules but faces criticism for partisanship and potential overreach (e.g., preemption concerns from AGs and groups like the USCCB).
- No major bill has become law yet in the 119th Congress; passage would require reconciliation between chambers and presidential signature.
- Related FTC actions (e.g., 2026 policy encouraging age verification tech without COPPA violations) support these efforts.
