Castor Leads Long-Overdue Bipartisan Action to Protect Kids Online

WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and longtime leader for stronger online protections for children and teens, released the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan KIDS Act, legislation to strengthen outdated privacy and safety protections for young people online. The KIDS Act passed the House 267-117 . “Today’s adoption of the bipartisan KIDS Act is a long-overdue and meaningful step toward protecting America’s children in the digital age,” said Rep. Castor. “For years, parents, young people, pediatricians, psychologists, teachers and advocates have made clear that Big Tech must act to reduce the harms experienced by too many kids online. This bill strengthens privacy protections for children and teens, bans targeted advertising to young people, gives families more control and preserves parents’ ability to seek justice in court. “This is an important step, but it is not the end of our work. I will continue to press to create a safer digital environment for children and teens.” The KIDS Act would strengthen and expand existing online privacy protections for children and teens, limit the collection and use of young people’s personal information, require stronger safeguards and tools for families, support state and federal enforcement, and preserve families’ ability to pursue justice through the courts. Castor has led bipartisan efforts for years to strengthen the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and adopt age-appropriate design requirements for Big Tech corporations. The KIDS Act reflects much of Castor’s work to improve the law. Background: Children and teens face growing risks online, including harmful content, cyberbullying, exploitation and manipulative design features that keep young people addicted. Up to 95% of youth ages 13-17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media almost constantly, according to a 2023 Surgeon General report. 1 in 5 teens say social media sites hurt their mental health, and a growing share think they harm people their age, according to Pew Research Center. A 2024 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report found that social media companies failed to adequately protect children and teens In the United States, teens who spend four or more hours online each day are more than twice as likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression. Studies show a dramatic rise in online sexual exploitation, including a 26,000% increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse material reported globally in 2025. The bipartisan KIDS Act would: Extend online privacy protections to teens for the first time by strengthening and expanding existing protections from children under 13 to young people up to age 17. Ban targeted advertising to children and teens. Require Big Tech platforms to provide safeguards and tools that give young people and families more control over their online experience. Help families hold Big Tech accountable for harms caused online. Establish a federal safety floor for parents and children while allowing states to enact even stronger protections. Protect existing and future lawsuits seeking justice for children and families harmed online.