By Sagar V. Mankar The U.S. Senate is getting ready to look at two important bills that could make the Internet safer for kids and teens.
As gamers and esports fans, we should pay attention because these laws might change how we play games and interact with fellow gamers online.
These two bills are called:
- Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)
- Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0)
These would be the first major laws about online safety for young people in over 20 years!
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced that work on these bills would begin this week.
What Are These Two Bills Proposed and Why Should Gamers Care?
Well, these laws could change how we play games, stream, and chat online. It’s not just about social media – it affects our whole online world.
KOSA aims to require social media to take “reasonable measures” to protect minors from online harms. This includes:
- Addressing content promoting suicide, violence, bullying, eating disorders, and other mental health issues
- Giving minors the option to disable features that encourage “addiction-like” use
- Allowing users to opt-out of algorithm-based content recommendations
This means less harmful content, ways to avoid getting addicted to apps, and more control over what we see online. For gamers, it could mean big changes in how we find new games and talk to other players.
On the other hand, COPPA 2.0 is all about privacy. It wants to stop companies from showing targeted ads to kids and teens. It also gives parents more power to delete their kids’ info from websites and apps. This could really shake up how gaming platforms and streaming services handle our data.
Who’s Supporting These Bills?
Widespread support exists for these bills, particularly among parents concerned about their children’s online safety. They point to tragic events, such as suicides linked to cyberbullying and drug purchases via social media, as catalysts for urgent legal reform.
Organizations such as the American Federation of Teachers and the American Academy of Pediatrics have backed the KOSA bill, underscoring the necessity of safeguarding minors from digital exploitation.
Interestingly, major technology companies, including Microsoft, X (previously known as Twitter), and Snap, have also shown support for these measures.
What Challenges Have These Bills Faced?
Previous versions of KOSA faced opposition from LGBTQ groups, who were concerned that the bill could be used to censor information about gender and sexuality. In response, the bill was modified to give the Federal Trade Commission the primary enforcement power at the national level, while allowing state attorneys general to enforce other aspects of the law.
Other obstacles included concerns about potential conflicts with state and local laws regarding Americans’ online rights. Some argued that passing a children’s privacy bill might hinder the progress of broader online privacy legislation.
Free speech organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have also voiced opposition over potential First Amendment violations (freedom of speech).
What’s the likelihood of these bills passing?
So, will these bills become actual laws? There’s a good chance they might!
The Senate is going to discuss them soon, and they could get enough votes (60) to pass.
Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., expressed support, stating,
“We must listen to the kids, parents, experts, and advocates, and finally hold Big Tech accountable by passing the Kids Online Safety Act into law.”
However, it’s not clear if the House of Representatives will support them too. But successful passage in one chamber often serves as a catalyst for action in the other.
How might this affect the future of gaming and esports?
If passed, these bills could bring some major changes to the online gaming landscape:
- Stricter age verification processes for online gaming and streaming platforms
- Changes to how game-related content (especially adult one) is recommended and shared
- Enhanced parental controls and privacy settings in games and gaming communities
- Potential shifts in advertising strategies within games and esports broadcasts
The article is based on news on US Today. And remember to subscribe to Gaming Foodle for more gaming and esports news!