Common Sense Media

A coalition of 60 child safety groups urged Senate Commerce Committee leaders to prioritize robust online safety legislation requiring tech companies to mitigate known harms to children. They criticized the House's recent bill for lacking a 'duty of care' standard and called for state AI laws to remain unpreempted. Sen. Andy Kim introduced a bill modeled after a California law to ensure age-appropriate content for children.

The Vermont Coalition for Independence, Reconnection and Liberation criticizes Google and Meta for commercializing classrooms through products like Chromebooks and YouTube, arguing they prioritize profit over student well-being. The coalition advocates for policies allowing opt-outs from electronic devices and independent reviews of educational technology.

Massachusetts schools are implementing a gambling prevention program targeting boys, led by teacher Pete Hall who shares his personal experience with compulsive gambling. A 2023 survey found around a third of 11- to 17-year-old boys gambled in the last year, with research indicating higher risk for males. The program aims to address youth gambling as a growing public health concern, following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that expanded sports betting.

A new study reveals that 20% of U.S. teens aged 12-21 use AI chatbots for mental health advice, with 92% finding it somewhat or very helpful. Dr. William Leever warns that AI chatbots may replace real human support and advocates for parental guidance through 'co-prompting' and setting boundaries. A Common Sense Media survey also found nearly half of children lack conversations with parents about AI safety.

Sen. Jim Banks introduced the SAFE for Kids Act, requiring pornography websites to implement age-verification measures to prevent minors from accessing explicit content. A Common Sense Media survey found 73% of teens aged 13–17 had viewed pornography online, with the Supreme Court upholding similar age-verification laws in Texas.