Staff Reports
In another thrilling episode of “Capitol Hill Showdown”—this time starring parental advocates and House Republicans—hopeful parents advocating for the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) marched right back to D.C. with dreams of child protection on social media. But despite their valiant efforts, they were dealt a cold dose of reality when House Speaker Mike Johnson declared that the bill will have to wait for the “Donald Trump 2.0 Administration” to be crafted and polished before it can see the light of day. So much for making instant change in the age of social media.
Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican and a real champion for children’s issues—at least until the Trump train rolls back in—proclaimed that parents’ concerns about online dangers must be handled with care. He emphasized the importance of getting the legislation right and partnering with the upcoming Trump Administration. Apparently, moms and dads can wait while Congress gears up for a political makeover. After all, who needs child safety when you could be waiting for political theatrics to play out?
House decides to wait until Trump administration to pass child online safety legislationhttps://t.co/bqhoS5W5Mx pic.twitter.com/whv6Mh949d
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 10, 2024
Just days before Johnson’s grand announcement, the Senate had actually approved KOSA in a bipartisan effort. The legislation hopes to put social media companies on the hot seat by requiring them to deactivate data-driven algorithms for minors. Of course, their version of “protecting kids” also had a little sprinkle of regulatory protective language that could have left room for interpretation—perfect for a misuse by bureaucrats under the Biden Administration. But with endorsements from big names like Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr., advocates believed momentum was on their side—only to see that balloon burst thanks to Johnson’s late-breaking statement.
Parents championing KOSA have some gut-wrenching stories that inspired their push for legislation. For instance, one mom had her life flipped upside down after losing her son due to a harmful challenge promoted by social media algorithms. While she had all the parental controls in place, algorithms still found a way to slip harmful material through the cracks, making a case for why KOSA is necessary. But as Johnson and his cohorts mull over how to handle the interests of big tech and parental requests, the children in question continue to be put at risk.
Meanwhile, attempts to merge KOSA with essential government funding legislation have faced a brick wall due to Johnson’s reluctance to act promptly. With House Leadership busy navigating the political minefields, both KOSA advocates are left shaking their heads in disbelief, particularly after countless visits to lobby for a bill that seems to be gathering dust in a congressional corner. As if parents weren’t busy enough fighting for their kids at home, they now have to engage in a marathon of legislative advocacy that’s quickly turning into a farce.
In summary, this entire episode exemplifies how legislating child safety in the online world is fraught with the chaos of political strategy—and a strong undercurrent of bureaucratic red tape. Advocates need not only to contend with dangers lurking online but must also dance delicately around the political whims of those who could—if they felt like it—actually do something meaningful for kids. In the meantime, Johnson has left parents hoping that when Donald Trump takes office again, they can finally start talking about what really matters—keeping harmful algorithms out of kids’ lives. Until then, it’s up to parents to remain vigilant, even as they navigate the murky waters of a government more focused on political survival than child safety.
