Statement of Advocates Fairplay, American Academy of Pediatrics, Center for Digital Democracy, and Eating Disorders Coalition on the Advancement of the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act

Today, the Senate Commerce Committee voted to advance the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act to a full floor vote.

Please see below for statements from representatives of organizations supporting these bills.

"This is an important step toward creating a safer and less exploitative internet for children and teens. Taken together, KOSA and COPPA will provide critical privacy protections for children and teens, limit surveillance advertising, and require platforms to prioritize young people's best interests. We urge Congress to pass these bills into law - for far too long, Big Tech has been allowed to regulate itself at great expense to the health and wellbeing of young Americans." - Josh Golin, executive director, Fairplay

"Pediatricians have long understood both the harms and opportunities of digital media on children and teens' health and development. We need protections and policies in place to keep children safe online and create a healthy digital ecosystem that better supports their needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) applauds today's advancement of the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, two bills that together make meaningful strides toward this goal. The Academy thanks Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) for their leadership on these important bills, and we call on the Senate to quickly take up and pass the legislation without delay." - Moira Szilagyi, MD, PhD, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics

"Senators from both sides of the aisle stood up today for America's children by supporting two historic bills that protect their privacy, safety and health. Now that the Senate Commerce Committee has passed the bipartisan "Children and Teens Online Protection Act" and the "Kids Online Safety Act" it is time for the full Senate to act. Without these much needed laws, kids will continue to be surveilled and manipulated by the largest social media and other digital platforms." - Jeff Chester, executive director, Center for Digital Democracy

"We are encouraged by the overwhelming show of support from the committee members for this vital legislation. The unanimous vote sends a strong signal to parents, kids and community advocates that their voices have been heard. We are hopeful that lawmakers are ready to do what's needed to protect young people from the unacceptable risks they face online every day in this country, but we know there is a long road ahead and we will keep fighting for common-sense oversight and protections on social media till the job is done." - S. Bryn Austin, ScD, Past President, Eating Disorders Coalition, and Director, Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders