Will the KOSA Bill Pass?

The whole conundrum about children’s social media exposure is now knocking on Congress’s doors. For nescients, Congress introduced the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). It is a bill that would limit children’s access to information and tighten surveillance.

The bill received a backlash in 2022. Consequently, the act made some amendments, but the issue of not letting children voice their opinions remained unresolved. At this point, it is still being determined if Congress will approve the Kosa Bill or take the needs of the populace into account.

Speculations have it that the bill is gaining massive traction from the public regarding amendments or cancellations. However, Congress believes otherwise and is supporting the current bill, assuming the ones opposing KOSA don’t even have children. On Thursday, July 27, 2023, Both KOSA and COPPA 2.0 were passed with a unanimous voice vote by the Senate Commerce Committee.

What Is the Kids Online Safety Act?

The Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, has grown notoriety lately. The statute was surpassed to enhance child safety. It is not meant to forestall youngsters from using technology or having access to the internet. This motion is being taken as a response to concerns about kids being exposed to risky content, cyberbullying, and statistics of privacy abuses online.

The statute was designed to hold the respective entities accountable for unlawful content. These safety precautions are installed in the region to shield kids from unanticipated harm. The act’s purpose is to establish an extra secure online environment that encourages young customers to have enjoyable online reports.

What Is Kosa Receiving Backlash?

The act covers basic parameters that would protect children from cyberbullying. It covers:

• Age Verification and Parental Consent: The act mandates that online platforms verify the age of users, particularly underage ones, to get access to positive types of content. Additionally, obtaining explicit parental consent is essential for getting access to content that may be flawed for minors.
• Privacy Protection: The act emphasizes the need for stringent privacy measures to shield children’s non-public records. Online systems are required to put into effect robust statistics protection protocols to prevent unauthorized access and record breaches.
• Content Moderation and Filtering: Online platforms must set up powerful content moderation and filtering mechanisms to prevent the dissemination of harmful and age-beside-the-point content. These measures will help guard kids from exposure to explicit and violent content.
• Reporting and Response Mechanisms: The Kids Online Safety Act requires systems to have clean reporting mechanisms for customers to flag inappropriate or dangerous content. Additionally, online platforms have to reply right away to such reports and take critical action to address the worries.
• Cyberbullying Prevention: The act addresses the rising difficulty of cyberbullying and calls for online structures to take proactive measures to save you and fight online harassment. Implementing powerful anti-cyberbullying guidelines can create a more secure space for kids to engage online.

However, following all of these rules will prevent children from accessing many things. This also affects the social media game for many. People who are encashing social media by utilizing children are likely to suffer. The influencer industry will also suffer and see a drastic fall in followership if this act is imposed.

What are your views on the subject? Should Congreen give a green signal to KOSA or not?

Share your stance in the comments section below.