Contact Congress about S. 1748: Kids Online Safety Act

Platforms used by kids and teens would have to add stronger safety settings, clearer notices, and more parent controls. Some sites would also have to explain their recommendation systems and offer a feed that does not rely on personal profiling. The FTC would enforce the law if Congress passes it.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Kids Online Safety Act is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2929-2930).

Latest action on S. 1748: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2929-2930)

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects minors who use social media, games, messaging apps, and some streaming services, especially children under 13. It also directly affects parents, large tech platforms, and companies that use recommendation systems to sort what people see. Adults could be affected too because the bill’s algorithm transparency rules apply to users more broadly, not just minors.

Why this matters: This matters because many online services used by kids now set their own rules, and those rules can vary a lot. This bill would create one national baseline for safety tools, parent controls, ad limits, and transparency about recommendation systems. It could change how minors experience major platforms and how companies design apps and feeds. At the same time, some important details, like how platforms identify minors without gathering more sensitive data, would still depend on later FTC guidance and enforcement.

Key provisions in S. 1748

• The bill covers many online services minors use. That includes online platforms, games, messaging apps, and video streaming services, but it leaves out services like email, basic text messaging, most schools, libraries, some news or sports sites, VPNs, and government .gov sites.
• It sets two age groups. A child is under 13, and a minor is under 17, and the rules are stricter and more parent-driven for children.
• Platforms would have to design their services with reasonable care to reduce specific harms to minors. Those harms include compulsive use, some mental health harms tied to use, severe harassment, sexual exploitation, and promotion of narcotics, tobacco, cannabis, gambling, or alcohol.
• Minors would get stronger privacy and safety settings turned on by default. These cover who can contact them, sharing of personal data and location, and features that push long use unless a parent changes them.
• Minors would get easy tools to limit time on the platform. Parents could also view and limit time and purchases, and those parent tools would turn on by default for known children.

How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 1748

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about S. 1748

What is S. 1748?

Platforms used by kids and teens would have to add stronger safety settings, clearer notices, and more parent controls. Some sites would also have to explain their recommendation systems and offer a feed that does not rely on personal profiling. The FTC would enforce the law if Congress passes it.

How do I support or oppose S. 1748?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about S. 1748?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain S. 1748 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.