Kids online safety push faces First Amendment hurdles

As Congress debates competing House (KIDS Act) and Senate (Kids Online Safety Act) proposals to protect children online, lawmakers face significant First Amendment challenges similar to those that have blocked state-level laws. States like Utah have attempted to regulate social media design features and require age verification, but courts have issued injunctions ruling these laws as content-based speech restrictions. The Supreme Court recently declined to intervene in a Texas app store age verification law. Experts warn that age verification requirements create a heavy burden on constitutionally protected speech. While litigation and legislation have prompted social media companies to add more child safety controls, advocates say more federal action is needed despite the constitutional hurdles.