We Need to Keep Kids Safe Online: California has the Solution

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We have a Tech Crisis

Every day children are using a digital world that is designed by and for adults, where they are nudged to give up their privacy, offered harmful material, and exposed to risky contacts and behaviors.

To protect Californian children’s privacy and safety online, California State Assembly members Buffy Wicks (D) and Jordan Cunningham (R) have introduced the bipartisan California Age Appropriate Design Code Bill (AB 2273).

With this Bill, California has the chance to lead the way in making the digital world safe for American children.

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A child seeing a distorted reflection of themselves in a smartphone

The digital world California young people and parents want

On March 29 2022, the GoodforMEdia team provided testimony to the State Assembly on how to improve online experiences for young people. Hear more from young people or share your story.

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All three of my kids are up all night using all of the social media apps I checked off above. It is hard to get them to go to bed and get up for school.
Tabecka, Oakland, CA
Since COVID it's harder to limit my daughter's screen time than before and frequently I have issues getting her to go on walks or do things she used to enjoy.
Joe M., San Francisco, CA
Stop the manipulation. My 10 yr old granddaughter has been taunted to partake in some harmful TikTok tricks.
LT L., Sacramento
[Social Media] feels like the most overwhelming aspect of being a parent these days.
Anonymous California Parent
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Teens Speak Out

Young people call for a design code.

Design It for Us
Open Letter to Tech CEOs

What would the Kids Code do?

If the California Age Appropriate Design Code were passed into law, companies would have to consider the privacy and protection of children in the design of any digital product or service that children in California are likely to access.

We know the practical impact this can have on children, because the Bill is based on a UK law that has already prompted Silicon Valley’s biggest names to innovate in the best interests of UK children. For instance:

  • Google have made SafeSearch the default browsing mode for all under 18s.
  • YouTube have turned off autoplay for under 18s and break and bedtime reminders are turned on by default.
  • TikTok and Instagram have disabled direct messages between children and adults they do not follow.
  • The Google Play Store now prevents under 18s from viewing and downloading apps rated as adult-only.

These are just a handful of changes that will make children’s experience online safer.

We have a Tech Crisis

Californian children deserve these protections too.

An Introduction to the Bill
Safer by design: the impact the Code would have

Support for the California Age Appropriate Design Code

Buffy Wicks - Assemblymember of California State Assembly, District 15
Jordan Cunningham - Assemblymember of California State Assembly, District 35

What people are saying about the Bill

Tweet from Frances Haugen - I'm encouraged to see lawmakers in California - a republican (Jordan Cunningham) and a Democrat (Buffy Wicks) - teaming up to protect kids' privacy and safety online. Whatever your party affiliation, the wellbeing of kids matters.
Tweet from Shoshana Zuboff - Last century child labor laws protected kids from explotation. Now, how to protect kids from #SurveillanceCapitalism? We should start with the CA Age Appropriate Design Code Bill introduced by Buffy Wicks and Jordan Cunningham. A similar UK law is producing real change.

#CAKidsCode

andrew e. brennen @aebrennen ·
10 Mar

“A key aspect of the bill is ensuring that children’s data is not collected and monetized.” Watch @BuffyWicks and others explain how the #CAKidsCode will protect kids’ safety and privacy online by design and default: https://youtu.be/M2bSTVtpQiY

Accountable Tech @accountabletech ·
8 Mar

“A key aspect of the bill is ensuring that children’s data is not collected and monetized.” Watch @BuffyWicks and others explain how the #CAKidsCode will protect kids’ safety and privacy online by design and default: https://youtu.be/M2bSTVtpQiY

Accountable Tech @accountabletech ·
8 Mar

“Just like putting seatbelts in cars for the first time…it’s time we did the equivalent of that in the online space.” Watch @Cunning_Jordan and others explain the #CAKidsCode’s impact on kids’ safety and privacy online:https://youtu.be/M2bSTVtpQiY

Nichole Rapier Rocha @rapierrocha ·
8 Mar

Unanimously passed and signed into law last fall, the California Age Appropriate Design Code protects kids’ safety and privacy online. Now, we can build on the momentum of the #CAKidsCode with the #MDKidsCode, #MNKidsCode, #NMKidsCode, etc. https://youtu.be/M2bSTVtpQiY

Nichole Rapier Rocha @rapierrocha ·
8 Mar

WATCH: Baroness Beeban Kidron of @5RightsFound gets straight to point about why we need to build on the momentum of the unanimous passage of the bipartisan #CAKidsCode: “There is a problem, and there is a solution, and we just got to get on and do it.” https://youtu.be/M2bSTVtpQiY

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How can I support the California Age Appropriate Design Code?

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