federal Efforts
When it comes to federal legislation that addresses online safety for minors, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is the law of the land
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
- Passed in 1998-before the iPhone and before Google and Meta were publicly traded companies
- Applies to kids 13 and younger
- Tries to regulate the data that platforms are allowed to collect on minor children by requiring a birthday be entered without requiring any formal documentation.
Below are examples of recent attempts that federal lawmakers have made to pass an updated bill addressing children's online safety:
IN THE SENATE:
In June 2025, Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced S.836 "Children's and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act" (COPPA 2.0)
- Markey's original version was introduced in May of 2023
- bill attempts to update the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998
- 19 Senators co-sponsored the 2025 bill
- part of a larger package passed by the Senate and sent to the House of Representatives
- no action taken by the House of Representatives
For a summary of Markey's 2025 bill, text of the bill, record of the actions on the bill, co-sponsors, and other details, click here:
In May 2025, Marsha Blackburn (R- Tenn) re-introduced S.1748 -"Kids Online Safety Act" (KOSA)
- first introduced in February of 2022 by Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- bill attempts to limit minor children's access to social media platforms
- 42 Senators co-sponsored the bill
- part of a larger package passed by the Senate and sent to the House of Representatives
- no action taken by the House of Representatives
For a summary of Blackburn's bill, text of the bill, record of the actions on the bill, co-sponsors, and other details, click here:
Both of these Senate bills were reintroduction because, after passing the Senate, the House of Representatives didn't bring the first versions of these bills to a full floor vote.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
In April 2024, Representative Gus Bilirakis introduced H.R. 7891 - "Kids Online Safety Act"
- bill attempts to bring similar guardrails to online content as the Senate bill of the same name
- 64 Representatives co-sponsored the bill
- did not reach the House floor for a vote
- for any future attempts to pass this bill, it will have to be re-introduced
For a summary of Bilirakis's bill, text of the bill, record of the actions on the bill, co-sponsors, and other details, click here:
Click here to review how a Federal bill becomes the law of the land: www.congress.gov/legislative-process