THE KIDS ACT PROTECTS BIG TECH, NOT KIDS. WE STAND WITH THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL OPPOSING IT.
Congressional Republicans recently introduced the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), H.R. 7757, which purportedly aims to protect youth from the harms of addictive online platforms and artificial intelligence (AI). In reality, the KIDS Act would undermine protections for youth online and insulate Big Tech from taking accountability for the harms caused by their products.
A bipartisan coalition of 40+ state attorneys general, including Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown, joined together to send a letter to Congress expressing their concerns about the bill and how it would weaken states’ ability to pursue state-level legislation that would create a better online experience for kids. Children’s Alliance shares their concerns. States are leading on this issue and should have the authority to continue.
The Harms of Addictive Online Platforms
Children and youth are spending more time online than ever before. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children ages 8-18 spend, on average, 7.5 hours each day looking at a screen. In 2024, Pew Research found that nearly half of teens (46%) are online almost constantly compared to 24% of teens in 2014.
Furthermore, in a 2025 study, researchers found that nearly a third of adolescents had “increasing addictive use trajectories” for social media, meaning that they exhibited compulsive habits associated with their use of these platforms, such as feeling unable to stop using a device, or feeling anxious when separated from it. These behaviors were associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Despite this evidence, addictive online platforms continue to use data tracking and intentional design principles to keep young people online for as long as possible.
Washington’s Leadership
Washington is making meaningful progress towards addressing youth safety online. For the past two years, Children’s Alliance has partnered with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Representative Lisa Callan, and Senator Noel Frame to advance House Bill 1834/Senate Bill 5708, designed to regulate addictive online platforms in order to support the behavioral health of youth in our digital world. While this legislation has not yet passed, significant progress was made this year in building support and momentum among community advocates, organizational partners, and legislators.
The well-being of youth in digital spaces continues to be a priority for Children’s Alliance, and we look forward to furthering this work as we prepare for the 2027 legislative session. This summer and fall, we are actively working to reimagine solutions through direct input from parents, youth, educators, and those with direct ties to the behavioral health crisis in our state.
Washington state lawmakers did pass House Bill 2225 in the 2026 legislative session. This legislation requires operators of AI companion chatbots to provide clear notifications and safeguards for minors, and to put protocols in place for identifying and responding to signs of self-harm, helping protect the behavioral health of young people online.
What’s at Stake if the KIDS Act Passes
If the KIDS Act passes, the provisions included would pre-empt stronger state laws, eliminating the progress that has already been made at the state level.
Furthermore, the bill lacks meaningful duty of care requirements, which would absolve operators of these platforms of any responsibility to design their products to prioritize the safety of young users. As written, the bill includes loopholes that would allow tech companies to conduct research on minors and use AI chat functions in their products without permission.
State Authority Matters
State governments have historically served as laboratories for public policy, giving legislators large-scale examples of how proposals will play out and allowing other states to learn from the mistakes and successes of their neighbors. Washington state has a history of pioneering new policies, including the legalization of cannabis in 2012 and more recently the creation of the first-in-the-nation public long-term-care program in 2019. Preserving states’ ability to experiment and explore new ways to address novel problems is vital to our nation’s ability to address complex systemic issues with evidence-based solutions.
State Attorneys General have also led the charge to hold large tech corporations accountable for the harm their products have caused. Earlier this year, a jury siding with the New Mexico Attorney General found Meta liable for misleading consumers about the safety of its platforms and endangering children. The KIDS Act may make it more difficult for states to hold tech companies accountable for the harms they are causing to children and youth. These legal victories are also critical for the development of policies that are enforceable.
Technology is rapidly evolving, and each state is facing slightly different problems due to the predatory nature of many online products. It is crucial that federal laws don’t become obstacles for state legislators to nimbly respond to changes in technology and the evolving needs of their residents.
Our Commitment
Children’s Alliance is committed to advancing policies to address our state’s youth behavioral health crisis. For too long, Big Tech has exploited our kids’ attention for profit. House Bill 1834 represents one of several state policy levers aimed at regulate addictive platform design and promoting healthier online experiences for youth. We believe deeply in creating safer and healthier digital spaces for children and youth. However, in its current form, the KIDS Act fails to meaningfully protect children and only serves to make future policy solutions more difficult to legislate and enforce.