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Dear friends,
“I’m so worried about my kids and grandkids and what’s happening with media these days” and “I know it’s not good to allow unlimited access to media but how much is too much and what is the right amount of screen time?” I hear questions like these every time I tell friends and family I joined the Children and Screens team. Why? Because every child is impacted by the seismic shifts to childhood, education, communication and relationships that have been wrought by the digital revolution in recent years.
We are all doing our best to help our children navigate their increasingly online world and make sure their digital engagement is both safe and healthy, but it’s a big job, and parents can’t do it alone. As midterm elections quickly approach, I’m inspired to see political momentum building for legislation and policies aimed at addressing children’s online health and privacy, closing the digital divide, and funding research to more fully understand the range of media’s impacts on children.
In this special-edition newsletter I’ll spotlight recent legislative and policy developments in the US and abroad, as well as highlight areas where you are invited to take action along with Children and Screens in an ongoing effort to make the digital world a safer place for children. Check out all of these important updates below!
Protecting Children’s Privacy Online
Safeguarding children’s privacy online is a paramount concern that is only growing in urgency as online services, particularly social media platforms, continue to collect and utilize vast amounts of personal data. This data is often used by companies to promote user engagement and provide targeted advertisements, leading individuals, especially children, to spend more time and money online. The federal government aims to address this issue through The American Data Privacy and Protection Act (H.R. 8152) which will establish standards to minimize the amount of personal data collected by technology companies and allow individuals to opt out of targeted advertisements.
At the state level, in September California passed an exciting new bill to protect children online that could act as a blueprint for action in other states and the federal level. The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (CA AB 2273) requires companies that provide online products likely to be used by children to meet specific requirements, such as turning on the highest privacy settings by default and turning off precise location-tracking features. Read more about this and other promising new California laws about online safety here.
Closing the Digital Divide
Nearly 16 million American K-12 students lack sufficient internet connection and/or access to internet connected devices at home, intensifying the impact of poverty in education and opportunity costs. Congress is working to close the digital divide through legislation including the Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act (H.R. 4374), which aims to provide grants and loans to expand broadband access in rural communities, and the Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2022 (H.R. 8077), which aims to provide additional funding for low-income families. There are also legislative efforts to increase access to technology through the Computers for Veterans and Students (COVS) Act (H.R. 3544), which will require the General Services Administration to give excess computers to nonprofits to refurbish and distribute these devices to schools, veterans, seniors, low-income individuals, and other populations in need. In late September, the COVS Act passed the House and now faces the Senate. You can help support these bills by reaching out to your Senator today!
The Children and Media Research Advancement Act (CAMRA)
This summer, there was significant movement on the bi-partisan Children and Media Research Advancement (CAMRA) Act, which will require the National Institutes of Health to fund necessary research on the effects of digital media on children’s cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development. After more than a year of little progress, legislators incorporated CAMRA into a larger mental health package called The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 (H.R. 7766) that passed the House early this summer. Now, the bill is being considered by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee and Children and Screens is working with other organizations to encourage Senators to push CAMRA forward. If the Senate HELP committee votes the bill out of committee, it can be considered by the entire Senate body. On July 18th, I personally urged support for CAMRA in a letter sent from the Institute to Chairwoman Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Burr (R-NC). If you would like to join us in expressing your support for CAMRA and the importance of understanding technology’s impact on youth today, please contact your Senator – click here to find contact information.
Recent Developments and Support of KOSA and COPPA
In July, Children and Screens co-signed a letter urging the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee members to vote yes on the The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) (S.3663) and Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) (S.1628). These bills aim to create a safer internet for young users by increasing privacy protections and reducing exposure to harmful content. Additionally, the FTC intends to investigate whether EdTech companies adhere to COPPA and protect children’s data and privacy. On July 27th, both bills passed committee vote and can now be considered by the full Senate body. You can help support these bills by reaching out to your Senator reaching out to your Senator today!
International Developments
Elsewhere, other governments are taking significant steps to regulate big technology corporations and protect children online. On October 4th, the Council of the European Union announced the final approval of EU Digital Services Act that recognizes children’s rights and prohibits targeted advertising towards children. This piece of legislation is being carefully watched around the world and it’s anticipated it will be used as a standard to establish international norms for a more open and secure online environment. In New Zealand, large technology companies have taken a step forward to reduce harmful content by signing a code of practice. We are excited about the momentum we are building to build a safer internet for our children across the country and around the world!
Looking Ahead
In the coming months, as these and other policy efforts continue to address the urgent need to protect children’s health and privacy online, be assured that Children and Screens will continue to monitor and push for legislation that supports the study and protection of children in the digital space as we work to promote the health and safety of children online.
Best regards,
Kris Perry
Executive Director
Children and Screens
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