US House Passes KIDS Act as Over 50% Back Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Updated
Updated · The Verge · Jul 14
US House Passes KIDS Act as Over 50% Back Social Media Ban for Under-16s
3 articles · Updated · The Verge · Jul 14
Summary
The House passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act at the end of June, adding to a widening US push to curb minors’ exposure to harmful online content.
A Pew Research Center survey released days later found more than half of US respondents support banning social media for children under 16, underscoring political momentum behind tougher rules.
The debate is being driven by concerns that online platforms fuel addiction, damage self-esteem and expose children to predators, while other countries have already moved to strict age checks or youth bans.
The report argues those restrictions can be ineffective and privacy-invasive, pointing to Australia’s teen social media ban, where one study suggested more than 80% of children still kept access.
It proposes a broader alternative: taxing major tech companies to fund nonprofit, child-focused online services, framing the KIDS Act as part of a larger fight over how to make the internet safer for children.
Is taxing big tech for a kids' internet a real solution, or a penalty that stifles innovation?
Could creating a separate, safe internet for kids leave them unprepared to navigate the real digital world?
As AI becomes a digital companion, can a public internet prevent a generation raised on mental 'junk food'?
Majority of Americans Back 2026 KIDS Act as Congress Debates Online Child Safety and Privacy
Overview
The Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, introduced in March 2026, has gained strong momentum in the House of Representatives as legal pressure mounts on social platforms to better protect children online. This push reflects a global trend toward stricter age-verification laws and increased safeguards for minors. Supporters highlight the Act as a significant and overdue step, with House leaders calling it an important milestone in holding bad actors accountable. A key provision gives parents more control over their children's digital experiences, aiming to create meaningful protections for underage users in today’s digital world.