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- calendar_today November 15, 2026
Bipartisan Coalition Supports Federal Kids Online Safety Act
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has taken a leading role in a bipartisan coalition of 45 attorneys general urging Congress to enact the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). KOSA is a federal bill designed to establish consistent nationwide safeguards for children and teenagers using social media and gaming platforms.
Attorneys General Call for Senate Bill Passage
On November 3, the coalition sent a letter to key Congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The attorneys general voiced support for Senate Bill 1748 and called on Congress to advance this legislation, emphasizing a need for social media protections for young users.
Skrmetti and Colleagues Stress Need for a Nationwide Standard
Skrmetti led this advocacy effort alongside Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, and Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson. In total, attorneys general from 41 additional states and jurisdictions joined the initiative. Skrmetti expressed in a statement, "The Meta settlement was an important step, but we need a lasting, nationwide standard that protects kids on every platform. Congress should pass the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act and give parents, children, and state AGs the tools necessary to make the online world safer."
Addressing Online Harms and Emerging Technologies
The letter argued that while a recent settlement between states and Meta was significant, it alone does not ensure consistent digital safety standards industry-wide. The attorneys general wrote, "Although the safeguards in this historic settlement are significant, they should not be viewed as a conclusion but rather as evidence that further action is necessary." The coalition stressed the importance of federal legislation to address both current online harms and new challenges from emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence products used by children.
KOSA's Duty of Care Provision and Congressional Progress
The Kids Online Safety Act would require companies to take steps to protect children online through a Duty of Care provision. This measure aims to establish minimum safety standards for social media and gaming platforms. The law would also enable states to enact and enforce additional protections. U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have championed KOSA since its introduction in 2022. In August, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced the legislation by voice vote. Blackburn and Blumenthal stated that the committee’s support marked progress for families seeking stronger technology regulation and online safety.
Background: Meta Settlement and Continuing Legislative Push
The push for KOSA follows a $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta Platforms, announced in August, over allegations tied to Instagram's effects on children and teens. Tennessee is set to receive nearly $752 million from the settlement, destined for the newly created Children’s Digital Protection Fund. The settlement also mandates Meta implement safeguards for youth on Facebook and Instagram, including screen-time limits, restrictions on night use, protections against bullying, and enhanced parental controls. Despite these changes, Skrmetti has said that only federal legislation with a Duty of Care provision can offer lasting protections for children online and may prompt broader technology industry reforms.
Source: tennesseestar.com.
