The Tools For Parents

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

L

• 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.

Section 230 originated as part of a law that went into effect in 1996, the Communications Decency Act (CDA)

• Much of the Communications Decency Act was overturned in the courts, however section 230 remained.
• The intent of the section is that, in exchange for platforms moderating their content, they would not face the threat of being held responsible in court for the content on their platforms.  
• Section 230 shields social media platforms from being sued for the content on their platforms. 

In October 2025, Senator Hawley introduced S.3062 - "Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue" Act, or the GUARD Act

• Bill prohibits a person or entity from giving a minor access to any AI companion
• Outlines details around age verification, specifies that asking a user if they are a minor or asking a user to enter a birthday is not sufficient proof of age
• 17 Senators have endorsed the bill
• Has been referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary

For a summary of the proposed GUARD Act, text of the bill, actions on the bill, and other details of the bill, click here:

www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3062/text/is?overview=closed&format=xml

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
• Attempts to update the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998
• 21 Senators have expressed support of the 2025 bill
• Has been passed by the Senate.  Now being considered by the House of Representatives    

For a summary of most recent COPPA 2.0 bill, text of the bill, actions on the bill, and other details of the bill, click here:

S.836 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

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 
• 75 Senators have endorsed the current bill 

For a summary of the Senate KOSA bill, text of the bill, actions on the bill, co-sponsors, and other details, click here:

 S.1748 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Kids Online Safety Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

In April 2024, Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced H.R. 7891 - "Kids Online Safety Act"

• companion bill to 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, actions on the bill, co-sponsors, and other details, click here:

H.R.7891 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Kids Online Safety Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress