U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill released the following statement after the Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act – two bills that address the impact of social media on children and teens:

“As a mother of four school aged kids, I know how critically important it is to protect our children online and on social media. I’m glad to see the Senate taking action – with overwhelming support from both parties – by passing two landmark pieces of legislation to hold social media companies accountable, improve data privacy, and help parents protect children and teens online. This is a real crisis that demands action – I urge Speaker Johnson to allow the full House to consider these bills as soon as the House is in session,” said Sherrill.

Sherrill said she continues to lead in protecting children and students online. She is working to pass the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act after artificial intelligence was weaponized to bully and humiliate students at Westfield High School. The legislation would prohibit the non-consensual sharing of altered intimate images online and create additional legal courses of action for those whose rights were violated.