New REPORT Act Cracks Down on Targeting of Children
Bipartisan Bill Protects Young Social Media Users
A bill sponsored by Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff and co-sponsored by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) would limit how social media companies can target children. The bill, the "Reducing Online Predators and Exploitation of Children Today (REPORT) Act," passed the Senate with bipartisan support in December 2023 and was signed into law by President Biden on August 26, 2024.
Key Provisions of the REPORT Act
The REPORT Act includes several key provisions designed to protect children from online predators and exploitation:
- Requires social media companies to implement age verification measures to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts.
- Prohibits social media companies from collecting personal information from children under 13.
- Requires social media companies to report suspected child exploitation to law enforcement within 24 hours.
- Strengthens the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's (NCMEC) centralized reporting system for online child exploitation.
Protecting Children in the Digital Age
The REPORT Act is a significant step forward in protecting children in the digital age. Social media companies have a responsibility to ensure that their platforms are safe for young users, and this bill will help to hold them accountable.
The bill's bipartisan support is a testament to the growing recognition that we need to do more to protect children from online predators and exploitation.
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