New poll finds near universal public support for bipartisan legislation protecting kids online

Bipartisan legislation requiring social media platforms to protect kids and teens from online harms has near universal support across the political spectrum, according to a new poll released today by Issue One, ParentsSOS, and Fairplay. The findings come amid a recent historic vote in the U.S. Senate to address the harmful impact of social media on young people — with nearly 9 in 10 U.S. voters agreeing that it’s time for Congress to act.

In the new poll of U.S. voters, conducted by Hans Kaiser and Associates/Hart Research, 90% of the electorate believes that it is important to combat the harms being caused by social media platforms. Nearly all voters (93%) agree that mental health challenges facing children and teens today are a serious problem, and nearly nine in ten (88%) say the government should pass laws to put responsible safeguards in place.

Eighty-six percent of poll respondents support the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which would require social media platforms to protect minors from specific online harms, such as the promotion of eating disorders, suicide, substance abuse, and sexual exploitation. The bill would provide children and parents with new safeguards, require the strongest safety settings by default, and impose penalties on companies whose design features expose children to these types of harms on their platforms.

“Momentum continues to build for meaningful action that will keep our children safe online,” said Alix Fraser, director of Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media. “The public is sending a clear and resounding message to their elected representatives that the status quo — manipulative algorithms, harmful content, and dangerous design — is no longer acceptable. Our children deserve better. The time to act is now.”

In July, the Senate passed the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act in a historic and bipartisan 91-3 vote. The bill, which combines two pieces of bipartisan legislation — Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn’s (R-TN) Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Bill Cassidy’s (R-LA) Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) — directly addresses the harmful social media business model by placing the health, well-being, and privacy of minor users over advertising revenue. The House must now act before KOSA can be signed into law.

Support for KOSA crosses partisan lines, with 87% of Republicans, 88% of Democrats, and 82% of independents in favor of it. Only 7% of poll respondents expressed opposition to KOSA.

“The tide has turned when speaking to fellow parents about social media harms,” said Kristin Bride, a survivor parent, member of ParentsSOS, and Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media. “The ‘not my kid’ mentality has turned into ‘my child is suffering too,’ whether it is anxiety, depression, screen addiction or eating disorders. This is an unfair fight for parents around the country and the general consensus is frustration that Congress hasn’t passed legislation to keep kids safer online. I’m excited to see that the polls continue to reflect this sentiment, and I look forward to the House listening to their constituents and moving KOSA forward this month.”

The poll also found that a majority of voters (59%) do not believe that children and teens are safe when they are using social media, and nearly 7 in 10 (67%) feel that social media has made children and teens’ mental health worse over the past 15 years.

“A groundswell of public support is growing across the country for KOSA, which will finally put children over profits,” said Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay. “The Senate has already taken strong action to hold Big Tech accountable. It’s now the House’s turn to take this historic step and deliver a victory on behalf of American families that will make social media a safer place for our children. We cannot wait any longer.”

The poll was conducted over August 20-22, 2024 with 1,200 online interviews reflecting a nationwide representative sample of likely 2024 general election voters.