Kids Online Safety Act Passes U.S. Senate. Now We Must Pass It In the House.

The U.S. Senate finally passed KOSA, the Kids Online Safety Act. In the last several decades, children have been preyed upon in multiple ways through social media. Many of these children have been recruited and trapped in human sex trafficking. Others have been raped and, yes, some of them have been murdered because of contact through social media avenues. Yet Big Tech and their allies like the ACLU have resisted any responsibility regarding how the platforms are used to sexually exploit minor children. The position of the Center for Garden State Families has always been that there is no civil right to sexually exploit and harm a child, whether you’re an educator, librarian, or social media provider. It is the civic responsibility of big tech to take responsibility and implement safeguards to protect its users, especially minor children. This is why we must now encourage the United States House of Representatives to pass H. R. 7891, The Kids Online Safety Act as soon As possible.

The above picture shows two separate sting operations in New Jersey that resulted in multiple arrests. The panel on the right represents 69 individuals who were arrested for possession and production of child pornography. Children having sex with children, children having sex with adults. The other panel represents those who are soliciting sexual relationships with children using apps from smartphones. 

Access to these apps (such as Grindr) is being pushed on children in school libraries and classrooms. Our legislators need to remember that the “Right to Read” does not include providing dangerous sex apps to children. 

At an event several years ago, one parent  found on the list of apps above, the one called “Musical.ly.” She said she had to take that off her daughter’s phone because an older man she did not know was connecting to her daughter through this app. She explained to me that this app was used by her school to communicate song lineups for band class. I asked her,” Did you report it?” She gave me a blank stare.

No parent, no teacher, and no responsible adult can be passive in this day and age regarding children and social media technology. Vigilance is the key! Social media companies have a moral and civic responsibility to protect children. The Kids Online Safety Act insures by law that they take this responsibility. Clearly, they did not feel they needed to do it without government intervention.

The Center for Garden State Families will keep you posted on more information regarding the dangers to your families with the Internet.