Parents Advocate for Stronger Online Safety Laws for Children in Washington

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:01:00 +0200

A group of parents and child safety advocates gathered on Capitol Hill on April 21, 2026, to push for federal legislation aimed at improving online safety for minors. About 60 parents, many of whom have experienced the loss or harm of children linked to social media and AI tools, participated in a vigil and advocacy event on the Capitol’s west lawn, symbolized by 150 roses representing children affected by online harms. The event sought to influence President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and key House Republican leaders, urging them to advance laws that would compel tech companies to take measures to protect children. The push follows recent court victories in March, where juries found Meta and YouTube liable for knowingly harming children through addictive features and enabling child sexual abuse. Parents and advocates displayed internal company documents suggesting the firms were aware of the risks. Advocates stressed the need for federal legislation, such as the Kids Onli