In the final hour, the first piece of legislation in 25 years to protect our kids from the mental and physical harms of social media was permanently stalled by the House Speaker and Majority Whip. After a 2-year vetting in Congress, the US Senate record passage by 91-3 and the House Committee recommending it to the Floor, the brakes were applied and all protections killed.
Over 120 national associations endorsed the guardrails in the Act. Close to 90% of the population want safeguards. The US Surgeon General sees no reason for anyone under 16 to be on social media and has recommended warning labels on platforms.
And yet, we face this very sad day for families and in particular, young victims unable to seek any protection from toxic algorithms and disinformation designed with one purpose – to hook and addict our future generation to screens. Time on screens equals more profits.
Big Tech may have won this battle, but they will not win the war. Advocates, medical experts, and parents who have lost their children will somehow gear up for another session of Congress.
Let your Member of Congress hear from you about swift passage in ’25! Find them here:
www.house.gov/directory