We’ve got some big news to share: Last week, Illinois passed not one, but two landmark laws to protect young people from Big Tech. And we’re proud to have played a part in making it happen.

First: HB5511, the Children's Online Social Media Safety Act.

Passed unanimously, this law requires platforms to prioritize young people's well-being over engagement. It establishes the strongest default protections for minors on social media, backed by privacy-preserving age assurance. We worked closely with lawmakers in Springfield to strengthen and improve the bill, advocated for changes on TV, and worked tirelessly (for years!) to get age-appropriate design protections across the finish line. Big Tech pulled out all its usual tricks to water down this bill. They didn’t work.

Second: SB315, the strongest AI safety law in the country.

The Illinois General Assembly passed the Catastrophic AI Risk Act, requiring the largest AI developers to publish safety plans, develop catastrophic risk mitigation measures, report serious incidents to state authorities, and — critically — submit to independent, third-party audits. This law builds on standards we also helped to set in California and New York, and goes further than any bill that's come before it. DIFU member Kashyap Rajesh wrote an op-ed in support of the bill, we testified in support, and we went on TV to explain the significance of the victory!

This is what it looks like when young people refuse to accept the status quo. Our advocacy, through both grassroots organizing and critical policy expertise, is what helps to push critical progress over the finish line. And to keep going, we need your help.

We're a small team taking on some of the most powerful and well-funded companies in the world. Your donation helps make this work possible.

Thank you for being part of this movement. We couldn't do it without you.

In solidarity,

The Design It For Us Team