In the age of increasing online presence, especially amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety of young people on the internet has become a prominent concern. With a surge in screen time among youth, online spaces serve as crucial lifelines for community, education, and accessing information that may not be readily available elsewhere.
However, the lack of federal privacy protections exposes individuals, including children, to potential misuse of sensitive data. The widespread use of this data for targeted advertisements has raised concerns among young people and adults alike.
In response, teens are voicing their need for tools to navigate the web safely. They seek more control over their online experiences, including ephemeral content, algorithmic feed management, and the ability to delete collected data. Many emphasise the importance of reporting, blocking, and user filtering tools to minimise unwanted encounters while staying connected.
Despite these calls, legislative discussions often seem disconnected from the concerns raised by teens. Some proposed bills aimed at protecting children online unintentionally risk limiting teens’ access to constitutionally protected expression. Others, under the guise of child protection, may lead to censorship of essential discussions about race, gender, and other critical topics.
Recent legislative efforts at the federal and state levels raise concerns about potential misuse. Some proposals subject teens to constant parental supervision, age-gate them from essential information
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