Amy Neville describes Kristin Bride as her “soulmate.” The bond between them formed on June 23, 2020, a day they describe as the most difficult of their lives. Both women tragically lost their teenage sons, who, despite living a thousand miles apart, both suffered harms linked to social media use. When they first met to advocate for child protection, Bride felt “totally alone.” Since then, they have witnessed the growth of a movement focused on enhancing online child safety. This movement now includes numerous parents seeking stronger social media regulations to safeguard children. Recent developments seem promising, with jury verdicts setting precedents for holding tech companies responsible. While the U.S. has yet to adopt child social media bans like those in Australia and Indonesia, discussions about regulation are gaining traction in Congress. “Moving forward is about growth,” Neville stated in an interview. “We have public opinion on our side, which empowers our efforts and moves us to the next level.”
Neville’s son, Alexander, was known for his intelligence and entrepreneurial spirit. He had “the best laugh in the world.” At 14, he acquired a lethal pill from a drug dealer who contacted him on Snapchat. Carson Bride was the “bright light” of his family, connecting easily with others. He tragically chose to end his life at 16 after enduring severe online bullying. On a recent Tuesday in Washington, D.C., the boys were remembered alongside 270 other young victims of online harm. This was part of the Social Media Victims Remembrance Day, marking the sixth anniversary of their passing. Carrie Baeten joined in remembering her 18-year-old son, Jack McDonough, during the memorial event.
Jury Verdicts and Global Awareness
There is a growing global recognition of social media’s risks to young minds. This awareness has spurred new restrictions in countries like Australia, the U.K., and Turkey. These countries have banned social media for those under 16 or 15, affecting platforms like TikTok and Instagram. U.S. advocacy gained momentum thanks to two key jury verdicts against Meta and one against Google. These decisions have energized child online safety advocates. Legal evidence has exposed some internal communications within tech companies, equating their addictive designs to drugs and casinos.
In Los Angeles, a trial examining allegations that social media harmed children marked a significant moment. Matthew Bergman, leading the Social Media Victims Law Center and representing over 1,000 litigants against tech firms, emphasized this case. Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act previously shielded tech companies from liability for user-generated content. However, legal strategies are now bypassing this by targeting the intentional design choices of tech companies. Bergman noted, “It’s a challenge, but no longer an insurmountable barrier.”
Long Road Ahead for U.S. Legislation
Federal social media regulation in the U.S. remains slow. Since 2000, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act has required kid-centric platforms to obtain parental consent before collecting data on children under 13. Recently, the House introduced the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, a deal that integrates elements from the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which the Senate passed in 2024. Critics argue it lacks the crucial “duty of care” provision that demands companies to act responsibly to prevent harm. “Without this, Big Tech will continue prioritizing profits over child safety,” asserted Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., in a statement.
Bride stressed the need for a comprehensive approach involving legislation, litigation, and education. “When lawmaking stalls,” Bride explained, “litigation and trials can advance our cause, preventing stagnation.” Brittney Bird, her family, and others commemorated young victims at the remembrance event.
Social media companies had limited responses during the event. Snap stated their continuous efforts to improve platform safety. Platforms have implemented some safety measures, such as creating separate teen accounts and tighter restrictions. Instagram limits teens’ viewing to “PG-13” content and sets accounts to private, restricting messaging from unknown users. YouTube offers a kids’ app and allows controlled accounts for older children. Although progress has been made, significant challenges persist. Bergman commented, “The drive for maximizing engagement hasn’t changed, but these steps are in the right direction. We need more.”
Social Media’s “Big Tobacco Moment” in U.S. Awareness
Since 2024, the Senate has annually recognized June 23 as Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day. This honors victims of suicide, drug poisoning, cyberbullying, and dangerous online challenges. At a recent event, Bride, Neville, and several senators called for decisive action. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., advocated repealing Section 230. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., urged advocates and legislators to “fight like hell for the living.” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., criticized congressional inaction, stating, “We know why.” He implied that financial arrangements with tech companies impede legislation progress.
The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to summon Meta, Alphabet, TikTok, and Snap CEOs to testify about child safety on their platforms. This suggests increasing awareness of social media risks, with the hearing dubbed, “Is This Social Media’s Big Tobacco Moment?” Bride and Neville, attentive to tech CEOs’ testimonies under oath, maintain hope. Neville remarked, “Lives are at stake each day. We must act now to mitigate risks, and though it strains my nerves, I commit to this cause indefinitely.”
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