🏀 LEGISLATION 🏀

Buckets Over Bullying supports legislative efforts at both the state and federal level that make social media safer for children.

Sammy's Law

Sammy’s Law is named after Sammy Chapman, a 16 year old who purchased fentanyl-laced drugs from Snapchat and lost his life. The law proposes safety measures for children online and also would mandate social media platforms to allow third-party software to access a child’s account.

Sammy’s Law would give parents the choice of safety. One of the most effective ways for parents to protect children is by using third-party safety software. This type of software can provide alerts to parents when dangerous content is shared through children’s social media accounts, enabling life-saving interventions at critical moments.

For example, if a child is expressing thoughts of suicide via social media, then a parent, who has received an alert through a third-party safety app, can immediately provide mental health support.

These alerts have already protected millions of children. For third-party safety apps to work, social media companies need to give them permission. While many social media platforms do provide this access, unfortunately, others, like Snapchat and TikTok, do not, even though the burden on the platforms of providing access is negligible and can be done securely using existing, industry-standardized technology.

Sammy’s Law will finally give parents the choice to use third-party safety software for their children. Sammy’s Law is being discussed at both the state (Illinois – Sammy’s Law-HB 5380, California- Sammy’s Law – SB1444) and federal level (Sammy’s Law – HR 5778).

Dr. Laura Berman and her husband speak out on the introduction of Sammy’s Law

Survivor parent Rose Bronstein advocates for Sammy’s Law at press conference

Buckets Over Bullying strongly supports Sammy’s Law.

Tell Congress to pass Sammy’s Law!

Kid's Online Safety Act

Buckets Over Bullying strongly supports passing the Kids Online Safety Act also known as KOSA, a federal effort to regulate how online platforms protect users. KOSA provides young people and parents with the tools, safeguards, and transparency they need to protect against online harms. The bill requires social media platforms to put the well-being of children first by providing an environment that is safe by default. This act increases the responsibility of platforms to mitigate harm to minors.

KOSA will:

Require covered platforms to take reasonable measures in the design and operation of products or services used by minors to prevent and mitigate certain harms that may arise from that use (e.g., sexual exploitation and online bullying).
Require covered platforms to provide minors with certain safeguards, such as settings that restrict access to minors’ personal data; and parents or guardians with tools to supervise minors’ use of a platform, such as control of privacy and account settings.
Covered platforms must also disclose specified information, including details regarding the use of personalized recommendation systems and individual-specific advertising to minors; allow parents, guardians, minors, and schools to report certain harms; refrain from facilitating advertising of age-restricted products or services (e.g., tobacco and gambling) to minors; and annually report on foreseeable risks of harm to minors from using the platform.

Tell Congress to pass KOSA! Support Federal legislation to create a safer social media experience for children. Contact your U.S. repersentatives here and ask them to co-sponsor KOSA.