US House passes bill to boost child online safety

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing online safety for minors. The Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, approved by a vote of 267 to 117, mandates that social media and other online platforms introduce measures to protect underage users.

The legislation seeks to limit features that can foster addiction and establish guidelines to safeguard children from sexual abuse. This move by the House follows increasing criticism directed at social media companies regarding their impact on young users.

A similar bill is under consideration in the Senate, though it proposes even more stringent requirements for online platforms. This vote is significant as it is the first time since 2024 that a congressional chamber has taken up legislation focused on the online safety of children and adolescents.

In related legal developments, tech giants Meta and Google recently lost a lawsuit in California concerning social media addiction. A 20-year-old woman alleged that she became addicted to their apps at a young age due to their attention-grabbing design. This case is seen as potentially setting a precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits against tech companies. Snapchat and TikTok had previously settled with the woman before the trial.