‘We Can Save Lives’: Grieving Mothers Push for Safer Social Media for Kids

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Bipartisan group of lawmakers gets behind the Kids Online Safety Act, which requires social media companies to prevent the spread of harmful content.

Maurine Molak has spent the past eight years advocating for online safety for children.

A year after her son David died by suicide due to cyberbullying in 2016, she pushed for a new law, also known as “David’s Law,” in her home state of Texas.

It makes cyberbullying a criminal offense and allows victims to seek injunctive relief against social media accounts used to harass or bully minors.

When David’s Law was passed in 2017 in Texas, certain provisions requiring social media companies to prevent anonymous cyberbullying were removed from the bill.

Ms. Molak said she believes this was because of those companies’ lobbying, and she vowed to address the issue on the federal level.

Her latest focus is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bill that requires social media companies to take measures to prevent the spread of harmful content, including that related to suicide, eating disorders, bullying, and drugs.

The bill would also require tech companies to allow minors to limit the category of recommendations or opt out of personalized recommendation systems that facilitate infinite scrolling.

In the past 18 months, Ms. Molak has made seven trips to Washington, and she met more than 10 congressional lawmakers during each trip.

The 61-year-old former accountant is fully dedicated to the cause through David’s Legacy Foundation, a charity she founded.

Ms. Molak and a group of mothers who lost their children because of online harms have advocated for KOSA since its 2022 version was introduced in the previous Congress.

They’ve shared their personal stories with legislators, who have shown empathy for the grieving mothers, according to several present at those meetings.

The bill was cleared by the Senate Commerce Committee in December 2023 and is slated to advance out of the House Commerce Committee soon.

Microsoft, social media platform X, and other companies have said they support the legislation.

By Terri Wu

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

How The Big Beautiful Bill Will Keep Louisiana’s Energy Industry Strong

Renewable or not, our federal govt should not be rigging the deck against any energy sources, especially nuclear power that is both clean and consistent.

On Declaring War, Congress De Facto Amended the Constitution

Congress has de facto amended the Constitution by 55 years of refusing to debate matters of war and peace.

AOC – Acting On Cue

It is easy to dislike Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), also known as Sandy Cortez, because she is fraudulent and not to smart.

LGBTQ™ Propaganda Roundup: Tampon Tim Walz Fails the Test

LGBTQ™ Propaganda Roundup: Nip/tucking the latest social engineering fisted...

AI is Now an Existential Threat

We now see evidence that artificial intelligence is an existential threat to our future. It is coming to take American jobs!

DOJ Sues LA Over Sanctuary City Policies: 4 Things to Know

DOJ filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles over what it said are “sanctuary city” policies that shield illegal immigrants from deportation efforts.

Rep. Dusty Johnson Will Run for Governor of South Dakota

U.S. Rep. Dustin Michael “Dusty” Johnson has announced that he will run for governor of South Dakota during the general election to that office in 2026.

Moderna to Ask for Clearance for Combination COVID-Influenza Vaccine

Moderna is going to ask regulators to approve its combination vaccine against COVID-19 and influenza, the company said on June 30.

FBI Says It’s Uncovered ‘Largest Health Care Fraud’ in American History

FBI and DOJ said $15 billion in losses was reported in “largest health care fraud” investigation in U.S. history. Officials charged more than 300 people.

Federal Reserve ‘Should Be Ashamed’ for Not Lowering Interest Rates, Trump Says

President Donald Trump said Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and his colleagues “should be ashamed” for not lowering interest rates.

Trump Signs Executive Order to Lift Sanctions on Syria

President Trump signed an EO on June 30 to lift most sanctions on Syria, giving the Middle-Eastern country an opportunity to develop economically.

Canada-US Trade Talks Will End Until ‘Certain Taxes’ Are Dropped, Trump Stresses

Trade discussions between Canada and the United States will end “until such time as they drop certain taxes,” U.S. President Trump said in an interview.

Trump Says US to Send Tariff Letters to Trade Partners Before July 9 Deadline

President Donald Trump said Sunday he will soon send letters to trading partners detailing the tariffs to be imposed on their exports to the United States.
spot_img

Related Articles