Friend –

Social media provides a lifeline of connection for many young people. That is especially true for children from historically marginalized communities, including LGBTQIA+ kids and children of color. And social media can be a way for young people to find important information about healthcare, such as reproductive health and mental and emotional wellbeing.

But as soon as Tuesday, the Pa. House of Representatives may vote on a well-intended but wrongheaded bill to censor that information from children.

Tell your state representative to vote "no" on this legislation.

According to the CDC, 67% of young people report that social media gives them a feeling of support during tough times. And 80% say that social media makes them feel more connected to their friends' lives.

However, the bill before the House has a broad and vague definition of "harmful" and requires social media companies to monitor young people's communications on their platforms. The companies would then censor anything they consider "harm" in order to avoid being sued.

It's easy to imagine this leading to the banning of information about sexual orientation, gender identity, reproductive health, and racial and social equity.

There are ways to protect children's online activities through stronger privacy protections. But the bill that the House is considering will lead to the censorship of information that young people find to be valuable, similar to the book bans we've seen in schools in Pa. and around the country.

Tell your state rep to vote "no" on House Bill 2017.

In liberty,

Elizabeth Randol
Legislative Director, ACLU of Pennsylvania