On Both Sides of the Aisle, Congress Is Stepping Up to Confront Digital Harms

Bipartisan bills to confront Big Tech are making real progress in the House and Senate.

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Big Tech has designed its social-media platforms to addict our children. It is a predatory industry, hooking kids to maximize “user engagement” for profit. These companies have proven themselves to be disinterested in the welfare of children. Rather, they are in a race to the bottom to capture young users first. Now, Congress is saying “enough.”

Current federal law to date, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998, has rendered parents practically powerless to prevent their children from opening a social-media account.

Clare Morell

About the Author

Clare Morell

Clare Morell is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and author of The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones.

Michael Toscano

About the Author

Michael Toscano

Michael Toscano is the director of the Family First Technology Initiative with the Institute for Family Studies.

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