Photo source: CNN
In a time where technology permeates every facet of our lives, ensuring the safety of our children online is paramount. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) stands as a critical legislative effort to protect our youth from the dangers lurking on the internet.
Just this past week, Moon Griffon did an interview highlighting the importance of this bill. He spoke with Brandon Guffey, a state representative from South Carolina, about the bill and how the issue affected him personally.
Guffey has become a prominent advocate for the Kids Online Safety Act following the tragic suicide of his 17-year-old son, Gavin. In July 2022, Gavin Guffey became a victim of sexual extortion after being manipulated by an online scammer on Instagram. This scam led to Gavin's untimely death, which has deeply impacted his family and driven his father to take action against Big Tech.
He joined Moon Griffon last week to speak about his story and how KOSA could save children like his son Gavin.
Listen to Moon’s Interview Here:
Other conservatives from across the country has stood up and supported KOSA as well!
Kellyanne Conway, a strong conservative advisor for President Trump said of the bill: "Increasingly, children are vulnerable to online distortion and exploitation due to social media use. Social media can be a force for good, but also lurking there are traffickers, drug dealers, and other bad actors."
Mercedes Schlapp echoes this sentiment, stressing the accountability of Big Tech: "Big Tech must be held accountable for refusing to protect children from online harms. It’s past time for social media platforms to prioritize the safety of children by adding stronger privacy settings and preventing the promotion of harmful content to minors."
The Conservative Case for KOSA
Protection from Exploitation and Abuse: The internet, while a tool for education and connectivity, has become a breeding ground for predators. KOSA aims to curb the exploitation of minors by implementing stringent privacy settings and giving parents more control over their children's online activities. As Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokesperson, states, "By requiring social media platforms to enable strong private settings by default, our minors will be better defended against the exploitation attempts visible every day on these platforms."
Safeguarding Mental Health: The mental health crisis among teenagers, exacerbated by social media, is a pressing concern. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti points out, "Algorithmic social media platforms have devastated teen mental health." KOSA addresses this issue by ensuring platforms prioritize the mental well-being of young users.
Bipartisan Support Reflects Urgency: Former Governor Mike Huckabee notes, "Protecting America’s children is not a political issue, but a public safety concern that transcends the normal horizontal political spectrum of left/right." The bipartisan nature of KOSA underscores its importance and the universal agreement on the need for such protections.
Holding Big Tech Accountable: Harmeet Dhillon, a staunch advocate against Big Tech’s overreach, asserts, "The Kids Online Safety Act will put rules into place to prevent these platforms from exploiting vulnerable kids and will give families a remedy against the CEOs who offer false apologies but enable these practices for profit and ideological reasons." KOSA ensures that Big Tech companies are no longer immune to the consequences of their inaction.
KOSA represents more than just a legislative act; it embodies a commitment to pro-family and pro-America values. The Kids Online Safety Act is a crucial step in safeguarding our children online. .
Louisiana has a unique opportunity with the amount of power concentrated in Washington DC that hails from the bayou. It’s time for our leaders in Washington to step up and support the Kids Online Safety Act now!
