WASHINGTON – Linking social media usage to the mental health crisis affecting American youths, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt joined fellow Sens. Dr. Bill Cassidy and Edward Markey in introducing the “Children and Teen’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0).”
The legislatin would update online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensure children and teenagers are protected online. COPPA 2.0 would stop the data practices fueling today’s youth mental health crisis, the lawmakers said.
“Keeping American families safe includes keeping our kids safe on the internet. Our country is in the throes of a mental health crisis, and the rise of social media usage among children and teenagers is inextricably tied to this problem,” said Britt (R-Montgomery). “Putting in place updated, commonsense guardrails to protect kids from the dangers of social media and protect their privacy is a first step to stop our worsening mental health crisis.”
COPPA 2.0 aims to ban targeted advertising directed at children and teens. Additionally, it introduces an “Eraser Button,” which requires companies to allow users the capability to delete any personal information collected from children or teens.
“Every kid has an iPad or smartphone. They’re going to use the internet. Parents should be confident they can do it safely,” said Cassidy (R-La.). “COPPA 2.0 is the tool that will give parents the peace of mind they need and keep their children’s personal information secure.”
This legislation also establishes data minimization rules to prevent the excessive collection of data from young users and closes existing loopholes that currently permit platforms to overlook the presence of children and teens on their services. COPPA 2.0 seeks to build on its predecessor by prohibiting internet companies from collecting personal information from users aged 13 to 16 without obtaining explicit consent.
“We need strong modern legislation that keeps pace with the ever-evolving digital landscape and creates a safer online environment by addressing the youth mental health crisis and protecting the personal information of our kids,” said Markey, (D-Mass.) “Congress must finally pass my ‘Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act’ to extend these protections to teenagers, block targeted advertising to kids and teens, and give parents of young people an eraser button to protect them from predatory data collection practices.”
Recently, Britt spoke on the floor highlighting decades of congressional inaction saying, “While social media companies have taken some steps, it is clear that there is work for Congress to do.”
“The last time a United States president signed a major piece of legislation addressing children and the internet was, wait for it, 1998,” she said. “Almost 30 years ago, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act was signed into law. For reference, at that time that the law was signed, MySpace didn’t even exist.
“It’s time for an update and there is a clear place to start.”
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