What's Next for KOSA? Understanding the Road Ahead
What happens after lawmakers advance major child online safety legislation? REGO’s Rick Lane joins Lynn Shaw of Lynn’s Warriors to explain the latest developments surrounding the Kids Online Safety Act and…
RRick Lane
Child online safety continues to be an important topic in Washington, with lawmakers considering how technology platforms should be expected to protect young users.
On August 5, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced the Kids Online Safety Act, commonly known as KOSA, by unanimous voice vote, moving the legislation back to the Senate floor for consideration.
Following the hearing, tech policy expert Rick Lane joined Lynn Shaw, founder and executive director of Lynn’s Warriors, to discuss what happened, where KOSA stands today, and what may come next.
For families, understanding these developments can be difficult. Legislative language, committee procedures, competing versions of bills, and questions surrounding implementation can quickly turn an important child safety conversation into something that feels inaccessible.
That’s why conversations like this matter.
KOSA is intended to strengthen protections for minors using online platforms, including requirements aimed at reducing harmful design practices and increasing platform responsibility. At the same time, the legislation has prompted ongoing debate about issues including privacy, age assurance, free expression, and how broad child safety requirements could be implemented in practice.
Regardless of where individual families or organizations stand on specific provisions, one thing is clear: passing legislation is only part of the conversation.
The effectiveness of any child online safety policy ultimately depends on what happens next. How will protections be implemented? How will children’s privacy be preserved? What role will parents play? And how can technology companies turn policy requirements into practical safeguards that work in the real world?
Rick and Lynn’s discussion helps put those questions into context and provides a clearer look at where the child online safety conversation may be heading next.
Watch the full conversation between Rick Lane and Lynn Shaw to learn more about the latest KOSA developments and what they could mean for the future of child online safety.
