Advocates for Youth is disappointed by the recent Senate passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and remains steadfast in our opposition to this legislation, recognizing its potential to censor critical and potentially life-saving resources, including sex education and sexual health materials, from young people. 

Young people deserve access to accurate information about their bodies and sexuality, this includes digital and online spaces. Restricting young people’s access to certain online information or increasing online surveillance does not actually solve the problem that so many online safety bills, like KOSA, seek to address. 

We remain concerned about the dangerous trend of policymakers targeting young people under the guise of protection, limiting access to whatever they deem inappropriate, including restricting health services, banning books, censoring sex education, and any topics related to race, gender, and sexual orientation. KOSA and other online safety bills are a part of this trend, regardless of the bipartisan nature they espouse.

As the House of Representatives is set to take up KOSA in the coming weeks, Advocates for Youth urges lawmakers to oppose this harmful legislation.