KIDS Act Passes the House: The Federal Government’s Action on Youth Safety Online and Beyond

Shreyas N.

When bipartisan House leaders like Rep. Frank Pallone and Rep. Frank Guthrie introduced the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act in March of this year, they posed it as a sweeping package, different from many other nationwide proposed legislation in a few ways. 

Clearly, placing the “sweeping package” tag on the piece means it isn’t just one choice, but a comprehensive, multi-faceted piece of legislation. Additionally, the two polar-partied colleagues serve together on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which stopped the package from being marked as a Democrat or Republican bill, a benefit that may have stemmed its 267-117 passing vote held on June 29th, 2026. However, this bill was commended by big GOP names like Speaker Mike Johnson, who said in his statement that the bill “represents an important step forward in Congress’ effort to protect children online and hold big tech accountable”. Disputing opponents of the bill like New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said sweeping legislation will limit individual privacy and preempt state-level authorities from enforcing stronger child protections online. 

What does the KIDS Act mean for youth advocates for safety online? The most prominent bill included in the sweeping package is KOSA, or The Kids Online Safety Act. KOSA’s goal, according to Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), is to make programs safe by default. It does this by requiring social media platforms to, “provide minors with options to protect their information, disable addictive product features, and opt out of personalized algorithmic recommendations”, according to the Senator’s website on KOSA. Additionally it expands existing legislation like KOPPA, to teens under 17 and prohibits strictly advertisement to youth. 

Previous proponents are turning against this piece as well, such as Common Sense Media, who is afraid the house watered down the bill by removing key wording from the Senate’s KOSA, like only requiring companies to comply with “reasonable” privacy requirements, and cut wording like “duty of care” from the Senate bill, as per their LinkedIn. Once the bill goes back to the Senate for voting, senators like Blumenthal as well as Maria Cantwell and even Republicans like Marsha Blackburn are opposing because of “duty of care” removal.

Federal lawmakers aren’t the only ones turning on the sprawling bill. 45 State Attorney Generals warned that the bill hindered their own legislation and privacy restrictions. 

No Senate hearing was yet scheduled when this blog was written, but lawmakers in the North Wing have an uphill battle before a resolution on this youth privacy issue is reached.

Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanGuthrie/

Works Cited

“[2026-06-29] ICYMI: Blumenthal on Weak House KIDS Act: It's Not Just...” Senator Richard Blumenthal, 29 6 2026, https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-blumenthal-on-weak-house-kids-act-its-not-just-insulting-it-is-absolutely-dangerous. Accessed 1 July 2026.

Congresswoman Erin Houchin. “Houchin Bills to Protect Children from AI Dangers Pass Energy & Commerce Committee.” Congresswoman Erin Houchin, house.gov, 6 March 2026, http://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/houchin-bills-protect-children-ai-dangers-pass-energy-commerce-committee. Accessed 1 July 2026.

“House Passes KIDS Act to Protect Children, Teens Online.” Mike Johnson, house.gov, 29 June 2026, https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2913. Accessed 1 July 2026.

“House Vote #228 - H.R. 7757: KIDS Act.” GovTrack.us, 29 June 2026, https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/119-2026/h228. Accessed 1 July 2026.

“Housing affordability bill passes House with bipartisan support.” The Hill, Capitol Hill Publishing, Nexstar Media Group, 23 June 2026, https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5937132-housing-affordability-package-bipartisan/. Accessed 1 July 2026.

Mullin, Joe. “The KIDS Act Would Require Age Checks To Get Online.” Electronic Frontier Foundation, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), 25 June 2026, https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/06/kids-act-would-require-age-checks-get-online. Accessed 1 July 2026.