Efforts to improve online safety for children and teens are intensifying, with lawmakers, government agencies, and tech companies proposing measures to address online risks. While Congress considers the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), other initiatives, such as the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) partnership with Snap Inc., are being promoted as alternative approaches.
Sponsors of the Kids Online Safety Act say it would protect minors from harmful content, targeted advertising, and excessive screen time. Critics of the bill warn that it would undermine free speech and privacy.
"KOSA’s age verification requirements could lead to platforms mandating government IDs or biometric data uploads," according to Jessica Melugin, Director of the Center for Technology and Innovation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
According to Melugin, the bill "raises significant privacy concerns and threatens the anonymity that is critical for whistleblowers and individuals expressing minority opinions."
Melugin also cautioned that platforms might overcorrect, removing constitutionally protected content to avoid legal liability.
"Fitness and nutrition content, for example, could be flagged as harmful for some users but beneficial for others. The risk of lawsuits might prompt platforms to take down useful information,” she said.
The DHS and Snap Inc. have introduced an alternative to empower teens with online safety knowledge. The Know2Protect Snapchat Lens, a virtual tool launched in October, uses an interactive quiz format to educate teenagers about online risks.
"The dangerous reality is that as safety protocols are put in place to protect children online, predators are already finding ways around them," said Mike Prado, Deputy Assistant Director at the DHS Cyber Crimes Center.
DPS says the Know2Protect campaign will equip children, parents, and policymakers with tools and knowledge to navigate these dangers.
According to Snap Inc.’s Global Head of Platform Security, Jacqueline Beauchere, Know2Protect is "an important initiative to educate teens and adults about online child exploitation."
The approach may be useful to help narrow divide. Melugin argues that innovation, not regulation, is the most effective path to online safety.
“The market has a strong incentive to develop tools that empower parents," she said. "Excessive regulation could stifle this progress."
According to Kate Kennedy, Director of the Know2Protect Campaign, the new tool "equips teens with vital information while encouraging parents and trusted adults to engage in conversations about online safety."
Melugin and others have questioned the ability of government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or state attorneys general to make nuanced decisions about online content.
According to Melugin, government agencies "aren’t child protection specialists, and their involvement risks politicizing decisions about what speech is permissible."
"By fostering innovation and offering tools like the Snapchat Lens, we can address online risks without sacrificing the freedoms that make the internet a vital resource for all,” she said.
