Advocates Call for Stronger Protections Against Digital Vice Industry's Impact on Children
A growing bipartisan movement is advocating for enhanced measures to protect children from the digital vice industry, which includes social media and online platforms. Parents and advocates, including groups like the Alliance for a Better Future, are pushing for legislative action at both state and federal levels to curb what they describe as the exploitation of minors by tech companies. This movement stems from concerns about the addictive nature of digital products, the monetization of children's data, and exposure to harmful content. Currently, 16 states have implemented some form of social media age minimum, 25 states have banned online pornography access for minors, and four states require parental consent for mobile app downloads. These legislative models are now under consideration in the U.S. Congress, alongside proposed bills like the Kids Online Safety Act and the GUARD Act, which aim to implement child online-safety measures and age verification for chatbots.
