Little Rock, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has taken a firm stance to push for the passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), calling on Congressional leadership to take swift action. In a letter addressed to Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Governor Sanders underscored the urgent need for federal intervention to protect children from the harmful effects of social media and smartphones.
As both a mother of three and the Governor of Arkansas, Sanders highlighted the alarming statistics regarding mental health among teenagers. “In recent years, suicide rates among teens have tripled; self-harm among girls has risen by nearly 200%; and depression among teenagers has increased by 150%,” she wrote. She emphasized that the cause is clear: unrestricted access to social media and smartphones.
The Dangers of Big Tech
Governor Sanders criticized Big Tech companies for their inaction, despite mounting evidence of harm caused by their platforms’ algorithms. She pointed out that these corporations have spent millions lobbying against legislation aimed at safeguarding children online. “They have been given chance after chance to fix the problem themselves; now, it is time for lawmakers to take action,” Sanders declared. She noted that some companies are also suing states like Arkansas that have taken independent steps to protect minors.
Arkansas became the first state to impose age restrictions on social media, a policy that has faced challenges from tech giants in court. Sanders described these lawsuits as evidence of Big Tech’s unwillingness to prioritize children’s well-being.
State Efforts and Federal Action
Governor Sanders highlighted Arkansas’ proactive approach to addressing this issue, including a statewide program encouraging phone-free schools. She recently hosted Dr. Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, for discussions with teachers, parents, and students. These sessions revealed the widespread disruption caused by smartphones and social media in classrooms and childhood development.
While Sanders applauded state efforts, she argued that individual states cannot tackle this issue alone. “The states are the laboratories of democracy, and I am proud of Arkansas’ bold actions. But we need federal assistance if we expect to hold these Big Tech companies accountable,” she said.
Why KOSA Matters
Governor Sanders described the Kids Online Safety Act as a “commonsense step in the right direction.” The legislation, which passed the Senate overwhelmingly with a 91-3 vote, seeks to ensure that social media platforms stop presenting harmful content to children. This includes posts promoting bullying, mental health issues, sexual exploitation of minors, and suicide. Sanders stressed that the bill carefully balances the need for online safety while preserving free speech rights.
“All this legislation does is require social media platforms to stop presenting harmful material to our kids,” she explained, framing KOSA as a necessary step to reverse the troubling trends that unrestricted online access has caused.
An Urgent Call to Action
Governor Sanders painted a stark picture of the consequences of inaction. “America experimented with unrestricted social media use for our kids and the results of that experiment are clear: it is an unmitigated disaster,” she wrote. With this letter, she urged Congressional leaders to act before the end of the year to pass KOSA and safeguard children’s futures.
The Governor concluded her letter with a final plea for urgency, emphasizing that this issue impacts families across the nation. “We need to reverse these alarming trends and protect kids online,” she stated.
A Growing Movement for Change
As the debate surrounding the role of social media in children’s lives intensifies, Governor Sanders’ leadership highlights the growing momentum for federal action. Her advocacy joins a chorus of parents, educators, and experts who believe it is time to hold Big Tech accountable for its influence on young users.
The Kids Online Safety Act represents a bipartisan effort to address these concerns head-on. With broad support from lawmakers and families alike, the bill offers a path forward to protect children from the darker sides of the digital world.
