Vermont Senate Democrats, Public Health Advocates, and Teens Rally for ‘Kids Code’ Bill to Protect Vermont Children Online and Hold Big Tech Accountable

Montpelier, VT – Today, Vermont Senate Democrats, public health advocates, and Vermont teens gathered to urge the importance of S.69, the ‘Kids Code’ bill, legislation aimed at protecting children’s privacy and safety online while holding Big Tech accountable for harmful design practices. ‘Kids Code’ targets large, international internet corporations — not Vermont-based businesses — and it does not regulate online content or infringe upon free speech rights. Kids Code would require large, international internet corporations to implement stronger privacy safeguards for minors, reduce design features that promote compulsive use, and increase transparency about how companies collect and use children’s data. This would include enforcement of age verification processes, defaulting minors’ social media accounts to the highest level of privacy settings, automatically turning off push notifications from midnight until 6am, and blocking friend suggestions between adults to minors – all features that would prevent unknown adults from contacting Vermont children. Click here to access S.69 on the Vermont Legislature website and click here to access S.69’s most updated floor amendment. S.69 passed third reading on the Senate floor this afternoon and it will now be referred to the House.

Senator Wendy Harrison, Chair of Senate Institutions and lead sponsor of S.69, said, “We owe a duty of care to our children to protect them from Big Tech giants, and now more than ever, we must prioritize protecting their physical and mental health. Parents try, but parents and their children are completely outgunned by this $300 billion online marketplace. We – as legislators — are the adults that are responsible for protecting Vermont’s children from Big Tech’s intentional and unconscionable harm.”

Senate Majority Leader, Kesha Ram Hinsdale said, “Meta whistleblowers told us last year that their data showed them that Vermont children were not spending enough time on Instagram, and they were actively strategizing ways to keep them on social media longer to increase their compulsive use. The message is simple: Big Tech prioritizes profits over people, and we cannot let them have unfettered access to our children.” 

Laura Derrendinger, a public health nurse and mother of four, said, “Social media addiction is a public health crisis for our youth and urgent action is needed. While passing Kids Code is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, we must accompany this with other policy levers like passing legislation for cell phone free schools, because we know that one intervention alone won't course correct the harm that Big Tech has on our children. Most parents are entirely in the dark about the risks of online harms on our children – parents think it’s safe because schools endorse the use of social media to stay engaged with their sports teams or other club engagements.” 

Zoe Mui, a Champlain Valley Supervisory Union high school student and intern for Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale, said, “Big tech profits off the social emotional manipulation of young minds. My generation deserves better, and it is up to our lawmakers to hold these companies accountable. It’s up to adults to push back and demand action before the damage becomes irreversible. Thank you to the courageous legislators and changemakers here today for standing up to big tech and putting children first.”

Contact:

Erin Stoetzner

Vermont Democratic Party

Senate Caucus Director

estoetzner@vtdemocrats.org