Summary of the Provided Text: KOSMA and Under-13 Social Media Use
This text argues that the Kids Online Safety and Modernization Act (KOSMA) is based on a flawed understanding of how children under 13 use social media.Hear’s a breakdown of the key points:
* Most Under-13 Use is Family-Mediated: Contrary to the assumption that young children are secretly using social media, studies show the vast majority (around 90%) do so with their parents’ knowledge and often with their help. parents frequently assist in account creation and are aware of their children’s online activity.
* KOSMA Forces Platforms to Override Families: The bill mandates platforms to terminate accounts if they know a user is under 13. This “knowledge” is broadly defined, meaning platforms will likely need to aggressively verify user ages to avoid legal liability.
* No Exceptions for Parental Consent: KOSMA doesn’t allow for exceptions even when parents are aware and consenting to their child’s use, or when the use is for educational purposes.
* Real-World Consequences: The text illustrates how KOSMA could impact everyday scenarios, like a child using a parent’s YouTube account for schoolwork, potentially leading to account suspension or demands for invasive ID verification.
In essence, the author argues that KOSMA, intended to protect children, will actually punish families who are responsibly navigating social media together. It will force platforms to over-police users and potentially disrupt legitimate, supervised online activity.
