Protecting Kids Online

When it comes to our kids, their development will be shaped either by caring adults or by powerful algorithms. Right now, Big Tech is winning that battle. That has to change.

My comprehensive plan, “Protecting Our Kids from Big Tech,” takes aim at social media platforms designed to maximize engagement among young users, often at the expense of their mental health, safety, and development.

These platforms, where many kids spend hours per day, are highly addictive by design and too often draw in and influence young users.” 

Drawing on lessons from past public health successes, such as reducing teen smoking and recent improvements in student outcomes from limiting phone use in classrooms, the plan calls for decisive action to create common-sense protections for technology that is reshaping our lives.

We already know what works. The time for debate has passed. It’s time to act to protect our children and strengthen our families.

Key Components of the Plan

Put Families in Control

  • Requiring platforms to provide strong, easy-to-use parental controls by default

  • Limiting algorithmic influence on minors unless explicitly approved by parents

  • Expanding access to education, tools, and resources to support healthy technology use

Require Safety-by-Design Platforms

  • Default child safety protections across all platforms

  • Prohibit addictive algorithmic feeds for minors without parental consent

  • Limit notifications during school hours and late-night periods

  • Increase transparency around how algorithms target young users

Protect Data and Mental Health

  • A ban on the unauthorized sale of user data, particularly for minors

  • Warning labels and time-use tracking tools for teen users

  • Treating social media harm as a public health issue, with dedicated funding for research and school-based support

Set Responsible Standards for AI in Education

  • Establish clear standards limiting AI use to support skill development, critical thinking, and academic integrity

  • Empower educators to define when and how AI tools can be used

  • Require transparent guidelines so students understand expectations

  • Promote regular review of AI policies to keep pace with evolving technology