WASHINGTON, May 12 – Federal legislation designed to force social media platforms to better protect children from online dangers moved closer to reality Tuesday after a powerful Republican senator announced his backing for the measure.
Senator Ted Cruz declared his support for the Kids Online Safety Act during a Washington event, marking a crucial step forward for the proposed law. The legislation would mandate that social media companies “exercise reasonable care” when creating features that could harm young users, targeting issues such as eating disorders, depression, and the sexual harassment of minors.
Cruz’s endorsement carries significant weight since he leads the Senate Commerce Committee, which typically reviews and approves such legislation before it reaches a full Senate vote. While the senator has previously supported similar measures, he had not yet scheduled a formal committee vote on this particular bill during the current congressional session.
Speaking at a gathering outside the U.S. Capitol alongside parents who lost children to online-related harms, Cruz made a firm commitment about the bill’s future. “We are going to pass it out of the Commerce Committee, we’re going to pass it in the Senate,” he stated.
Representatives from Cruz’s office did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment on the announcement.
