| The Honorable Mike Johnson Speaker of the House U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 | The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries Minority Leader of the House U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 |
| The Honorable Brett Guthrie Chairman U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 | The Honorable Frank Pallone Ranking Member U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 |
June 26, 2026
Dear Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Chairman Guthrie, and Ranking Member Pallone,
Survivor parents aren’t just advocates in this process. We are the living consequences of Big Tech’s dangerous and predatory choices. For years, survivor parents have shown up to every part of the legislative process. We have sat across from Energy and Commerce Committee staff and members in hearings, markups, and meetings. We have told our children’s stories to this Committee, time and time again– not because we wanted to but because we believed that if Congress heard them enough times, they would act. We have acted in good faith, shared our truth with the world, and campaigned passionately for the strongest possible legislation. We have been clear about what meaningful legislation requires and what we will not accept. Yesterday, House leaders announced a deal to move the KIDS Act toward a floor vote. Unfortunately, it falls well below those standards.
Though tragedy has changed us, it has not weakened us, and we know a bad bill when we see one. It is a particularly grievous affront that in the wake of Social Media Victims Remembrance Day– a day created to honor our children’s lives lost to negligence – a package shaped by Meta and Big Tech is being sold as progress, when in reality it would leave more families memorializing their children next year.
This bill, as written, would actually make things worse because it creates the illusion of protecting children while weakening the very laws and legal pathways families rely on to hold technology companies accountable. Parents will believe Congress has made their children safer, when in reality many of the protections they need, and many of the tools available to seek justice, will be weaker than they are today.
We have many concerns with this package, but the following fundamental failures alone are enough to disqualify this bill outright.
It eliminates the duty of care and we will not accept any kids’ online safety bill without one. The bill removes the duty to prevent and mitigate depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and suicidal behaviors, despite years of evidence showing platforms knew what their design choices were doing to children and chose growth over safety. Section 213(c)(2) says nothing in the bill “may be construed to impose a duty of care.” That clause was written for a courtroom, and companies will use it to delay grieving families seeking accountability.
It expressly exempts the very harms that killed our children, handing Big Tech an escape hatch from the consequences of its own predatory choices.The bill disclaims platform responsibility for eating disorders, suicidal behavior, depression, and addiction. Under this bill, platforms have no obligation to even have a policy addressing the harms that took our kids. No obligation means no accountability.
It leaves children unprotected where so many online harms actually occur. Children are groomed, sexually exploited, bullied, and financially manipulated not only on social media, but through games, messaging apps, virtual reality, and other interactive platforms. A child safety law that excludes places where children are being harmed cannot protect them.
It falls short on AI chatbot harms. Children are already becoming emotionally dependent on systems that simulate friendship, romance, and therapy and are being sexually abused by these products. Yet the bill does not set clear safety standards, prohibit features that encourage attachment and excessive engagement, or even tell companies that it is not okay to put a product they know is dangerous on toy store shelves. Instead, it leaves companies to decide what protections are “reasonable.” We will not accept voluntary policies written by the very companies creating these dangers.
We have been patient. We have given this process every good-faith effort despite the pain it causes us every time. The text of this bill does not reflect a shared goal of protecting children. This bill doesn’t pass the parent test, and we urge you to stop this package from reaching the House floor. We call on every Member of Congress to vote no and stand with families, not Big Tech.
We did not create Social Media Victims Remembrance Day so that our children’s names could be used as cover for a bill that protects the very companies that harmed them. We remember them as joyful, whole people, and it is these memories for which we fight. We are asking Congress to fight in their memory, not betray it.
Sincerely,
Parents RISE!
Amy Neville, Alexander, Forever 14
Brandy Roberts, Englyn, Forever 14
Bridgette Norring, Devin, Forever 19
Erin Popolo, Emily, Forever 17
Kristin Bride, Carson, Forever 16
Julianna Arnold, Coco, Forever 17
Lori Schott, Annalee, Forever 18
Mary Rodee, Riley, Forever 15
Toney Roberts, Englyn, Forever 14