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.

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.

 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.

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.

Sign the petition: Tell California’s lawmakers to protect our kids online

 Sign the petition 

Thanks for all that you do,
Vicky and the team at SumOfUs


More information:

California to adopt UK-style child data law in global push against Big Tech
Financial Times. 16 February 2022.
Tech industry faces pressure in Sacramento over kids' safety
Politico. 29 March 2022.
California Age Appropriate Design Code Bill
Campaign for California Age Appropriate design code.
 
 

 

 

SumOfUs is a community of people from around the world committed to curbing the growing power of corporations. We want to buy from, work for and invest in companies that respect the environment, treat their workers well and respect democracy. And we’re not afraid to stand up to them when they don’t.

Please help keep SumOfUs strong by chipping in $3

This email was sent to [email protected]. | Unsubscribe