Gov. Sanders Calls for Passage of Kids Online Safety Act Before 2025

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is urging U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) before the end of the year to address growing concerns over children’s mental health and online safety.

In a letter to key congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sanders emphasized the alarming rise in mental health issues among youth, particularly depression and anxiety linked to social media use. She pointed to studies showing that nearly half of U.S. teens experience online bullying, with girls being disproportionately affected.

“Big Tech companies know their algorithms are harming kids,” Sanders wrote, calling for legislative action to install commonsense safeguards on platforms children use. Sanders has been outspoken on the issue, sharing her own experience as a mother of three and highlighting the dangers of unrestricted social media use.

KOSA would require tech companies to take measures to protect minors from online harms such as bullying, suicide promotion, and sexual exploitation. Sanders stressed the need for a federal solution, citing the fact that the last law to protect children online was passed in 1998, long before the advent of social media.

The governor also referenced Dr. Jonathan Haidt’s bestselling book, The Anxious Generation, which explores the harmful effects of early social media exposure. Arkansas has already implemented state-level policies to curb social media use among children, despite ongoing legal challenges from tech companies.

Sanders is urging Congress to act quickly, saying, “We need to reverse these alarming trends and protect kids online.”