For years, parents have been told that keeping kids safe online is largely their responsibility. Set screen limits. Monitor social media. Know which apps your child is using. Talk to them about what they see online.
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Those things matter. I am a parent, and I know those conversations matter.
But parents should not be expected to compete alone against some of the largest technology companies in the world and products specifically designed to keep people clicking, scrolling and coming back for more.
The recent landmark settlement with Meta should be a wake-up call.
Illinois joined a bipartisan coalition of states in reaching a settlement of up to $17.1 billion with Meta over allegations involving Facebook and Instagram and their impact on children and teens. Subject to court approval, Meta will also be required to make significant changes for users under 18, including stronger age verification, time limits, restrictions on nighttime access and notifications, and additional controls over algorithmic feeds.
Those are significant changes. They also raise an important question: Why did it take years of litigation to get here?
Our children are growing up online in a digital world that is changing faster than most of us can keep up with and social media is only part of that challenge. Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of how young people search for information, communicate and even form relationships online.
We cannot wait until after children have been harmed to decide that safeguards were necessary.
That is why protecting kids in the digital age has become an important part of my work in Springfield.
I’ve introduced Senate Bill 3945, the Adult Content Age Verification Act. The legislation would require websites that contain substantial amounts of material harmful to minors to take reasonable steps to verify that users are adults. Companies that refuse to comply could face penalties, with those dollars directed toward investigating cybercrimes involving the exploitation of children.
The principle is simple. Businesses have responsibilities when they sell age restricted products in the physical world. The digital world should not become a loophole that leaves children with fewer protections.
We also have to recognize the new risks that come with artificial intelligence.
I supported Senate Bill 316, which passed the Illinois Senate unanimously. The legislation would require AI companion systems to include protocols for responding to suicidal ideation or expressions of self-harm, clearly tell users that they are communicating with an automated system rather than a human, and include protections aimed at preventing harmful material from being generated for minors. I voted yes because technological progress and child safety should never be treated as competing priorities.
I also cosponsored legislation establishing new safety and transparency requirements for developers of the largest and most advanced AI systems. That measure, Senate Bill 315, was signed into law this summer.
Government alone will not solve every problem online, and legislation will never replace involved parents. But we can give families better tools, demand more responsibility from technology companies and make sure our laws are keeping pace with the world our children are living in.
On September 15, I am hosting Protecting Kids in a Digital World at Caseyville Village Hall. Experts from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Illinois State Police will talk with parents and caregivers about online threats, social media, popular apps, cyberbullying and practical ways to help keep kids safe. The free event will run from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
The Meta settlement is an important step, but it cannot be the finish line.
Technology will continue to change. The platforms our children use five years from now may not even exist today. Parents should have more tools. Companies should be held accountable. And when it comes to protecting children online, we should not have to wait for the next lawsuit to put safeguards into place.
