SPOKANE, Wash. – A bipartisan group of Spokane elected officials, local advocates, concerned mothers and fathers, are calling for the passage of the Kids Online Safety Protection Act of 2023 to prevent online threats toward children and teens, promoting a safer digital environment for our future generations.
“Children and teens in America are suffering from an acute mental health crisis, in part because of the growing use of social media platforms,” Executive Director of NAMI Spokane Chauntell Lieske said.
During a press conference Wednesday morning at the Spokane Central Library, Spokane elected officials and concerned parents joined forces to demand federal protection for our children in the growing online world. The Kids Online Safety Protection Act of 2023 (KOSA) would require online platforms to put the interests of kids before profit.
“It’s time to hold these social media companies accountable,” Lieske said.
It has been 25 years since substantial legislation was passed regarding the protection of those online, which is shocking when you realize the amount of development being made each and every day regarding what technology can do, and what it can show.
Supporters of KOSA say it would give parents the transparency they need to protect their children from the harm of social media, becoming a safeguard between their kids and those on the other side of the screen.
One local parent’s discovery of concerning behavior aimed toward her young daughter online, struck her to the core and ultimately led her to being in support of KOSA today:
“It was a wakeup call and stark reminder of the dangers that lurk in the digital world,” Kitara Johnson said.
Kitara Johnson is a local advocate and a concerned mom, who just wants her daughter to have the chance to grow up in a world that is safe and kind online. But in today’s current state, that is not the reality. Johnson said her 11-year-old daughter was targeted on social media.
“I urge you to remember my story, my daughter’s story, and the stories of countless other children who have been victims of online threats and bullying,” Johnson said. “Let’s not wait for more children to be targeted, let’s act now.”
The world of social media is challenging and complicated for many people, especially those that are younger. From counting the amount of likes your post gets, to adopting unrealistic body image expectations, data shows that online platforms like Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Snapchat, have an increasingly negative effect on the mental health of young people.
Dr. Krista Kubiak Crotty, Director of Clinical Outreach Education at The Emily Program, weighed in at Wednesday’s press conference.
“Social media needs to stop sending the message to youth that they are not ok,” she said.
A few statistics Crotty provided were alarming:
Every 53 minutes a person dies due to a complication with an eating disorder in America. According to Crotty, Instagram told her the clothing size that would make a teenager most liked in high school, would be a size one. Between 2009 and 2019, rates of depression in teens doubled. In 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 14. Suicide was the third leading cause of death for those between the age of 15 and 24.
Increased concern about these rising impacts on young people contributed to a recent lawsuit led by more than three dozen states, including Washington, against Meta (the company that owns Instagram and Facebook). The lawsuit alleged Meta uses features to induce children to extend their use of their platforms.
“It’s time for big tech companies to take responsibility and work towards the betterment of children’s health, instead of causing their decline,” Crotty said.
In attendance Wednesday was also Spokane City Councilmember Betsy Wilkerson and Councilmember Jonathan Bingle. Despite being on differing sides much of the time within their positions, Wilkerson and Bingle are on the same page when it comes to KOSA; they both support this bipartisan bill.
“Our kids are not alright, it’s up to us to make the difference,” Wilkerson said.
“Through this bill, I lend my full support of safeguarding our children and ensuring their safety for our future,” Bingle said. Each supporter called on Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray, as well as Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers to support KOSA.
In a statement to KHQ, McMorris Rodgers’ spokesperson, Kyle VonEnde, said quote:
“The congresswoman is committed to working with Senator Cantwell and others to protect kids online.”
In statements made to NonStop Local KHQ, both Senator Cantwell and Senator Murray expressed support for responsible legislation that protects kids online. Cantwell specifically said she looks forward to getting KOSA passed.
