John,
Instagram and TikTok are fuelling a mental health epidemic – bombarding
kids with toxic posts that push eating disorders, plastic surgery and
self-harm.
But a new bill to protect kids online just passed the California State
Assembly's privacy and consumer protection committee. This is thanks to
massive public pressure from SumOfUs members and other civil society
groups.
The fight isn't over yet. In a few days, the bill will go to a vote in the
appropriations committee and then on the floor of the House and Senate --
and Big Tech will do everything they can to kill it.
Let’s ramp up public pressure on these lawmakers to back this bill and
stop these social media giants wrecking our kids’ lives.
[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition: Tell California’s lawmakers to protect our kids
online
Thanks for all that you do,
Vicky and the team at SumOfUs
P.S. See below for more information about the campaign and what you can do
to make a difference.
-----------------------------------------------------
Eleven lawmakers in California will decide the fate of a bill that will
help protect kids online.
But Big Tech is mobilizing an army of lobbyists to kill the bill. Let’s
make sure they don’t succeed -- tell lawmakers to protect our kids online.
[ [link removed] ] Sign the petition
John,
Eleven lawmakers in California will decide the fate of a bill that will
help protect kids online.
But the tech industry is campaigning full-scale to stop it.
California's privacy committee are deciding how to proceed with the bill,
and we have just a few days to show them that Instagram and TikTok aren't
the only ones watching.
[ [link removed] ]Tell California lawmakers: protect kids online
The UK already passed a similar law last year -- forcing YouTube to turn
off autoplay for under 18s, and TikTok and Instagram to ban direct
messaging between children and adults they do not follow. But these
companies only acted because strong laws forced them too.
These measures shouldn't just be for kids in the UK, children everywhere
deserve to feel safe online.
If we can show there is overwhelming public support for this bill in
California, we can use our momentum to get this law passed not just in
California but in every other state too. But lawmakers will only have the
courage to stand up to these billionaire tech execs if we push them to.
[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition: Tell California’s lawmakers to protect our kids
online
[ [link removed] ] Sign the petition
Thanks for all that you do,
Vicky and the team at SumOfUs
More information:
[ [link removed] ]California to adopt UK-style child data law in global push against Big
Tech
Financial Times. 16 February 2022.
[ [link removed] ]Tech industry faces pressure in Sacramento over kids' safety
Politico. 29 March 2022.
[ [link removed] ]California Age Appropriate Design Code Bill
Campaign for California Age Appropriate design code.
SumOfUs is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy.
Please help keep SumOfUs strong by chipping in $3. [link removed]
