US Senate passes bill to protect children online

The US Senate approved a series of measures aimed at protecting children online on Tuesday, July 30, the first major text targeting the technology industry in the United States in years. “It’s an exceptional day”applauded Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on X. “The Senate has kept its promise to all parents who have lost a child to the dangers of social media”he assured.

The bill now faces approval in the House of Representatives, where its passage is more uncertain and lawmakers are on recess until September. The measures, supported in the Senate by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, would require platforms to implement measures to protect minors from problematic and dangerous content, including sexual exploitation, online harassment, the promotion of suicide and eating disorders.

The bill would also limit users’ ability to communicate with children via online messaging and impose stronger parental controls. Microsoft, X (formerly Twitter) and Snap have said they support the bill, while Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and TikTok have not shown clear support. Another part of the bill would strengthen privacy standards for minors and ban targeted advertising to children online.