US House Passes Bipartisan Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act; Check Details
The US House of Representatives has passed the bipartisan Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act to protect children from addictive platform features and exploitation. The bill's omission of a strict "duty of care" requirement sets up a legislative showdown with the Senate's tougher safety standards
The United States House of Representatives has passed a major pieces of legislation aimed at enforcing stricter digital safeguards for children on social media platforms. The Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act was approved on Monday with a decisive 267-117 bipartisan vote, reflecting growing congressional concern over the impact of internet companies on younger users.
As per a report by Reuters, the newly approved House bill requires digital platforms to introduce features that allow children to limit addictive interface designs. It also mandates that tech companies implement robust corporate policies designed to shield minors from severe online harms, including online sexual exploitation. Social Media Platforms Must Share Revenue Fairly With Content Creators Including Journalists, Media Houses, Influencers and Others: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Legislative Disagreements Over Corporate Accountability
While the passage of the bill marks a significant step forward, it sets up a potential legislative clash with the Senate. The House version intentionally omits a stringent "duty of care" provision, a standard that would legally obligate social media corporations to inherently design their platforms with child safety in mind.
The Senate previously passed its own broader legislation, the Kids Online Safety Act, in a lopsided 91-3 vote back in 2024. That version contained the strict accountability language that critics argue is necessary to truly change tech industry operations. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, is reportedly negotiating with the White House to garner executive support for a unified legislative package that reincorporates the tougher Senate rules.
Rising Backlash Against Social Media
The political momentum behind the KIDS Act comes amid intense public backlash against major tech firms. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle face mounting pressure from parents and advocacy groups to curb dangerous algorithms that specifically target adolescent vulnerabilities. Donald Trump Says US-Iran Talks To Be Held in Doha on June 30 After Weekend Escalation.
Despite the bipartisan support in the House, some progressive lawmakers and digital civil liberties organizations have voiced reservations. Critics argue that dropping the Senate's stricter standards represents a compromise that allows tech firms to police themselves, while certain age-verification clauses could inadvertently restrict general user privacy and digital access.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 30, 2026 10:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
