Social media companies are hell-bent on pumping their profits – not accounting for the real-world harms their platforms are causing.
Any day now the Senate Finance Committee will vote on the SB 844: Maryland Age–Appropriate Design Code and if we can show our support for this landmark bill we can make sure it passes.
Maryland has the opportunity to beat big tech but we need lawmakers to know we back this bill and only you can make this happen.
Let’s show them that Maryland wants a better online world for kids.
Scroll down to send an email to the Senators to support SB 844: Maryland Age–Appropriate Design Code.
Here are some key points to include in your email but feel free to personalize it as much as you'd like. The more personal the better!
- The Age Appropriate Design Code Act would require companies to prioritize the online privacy and safety of children in the design of any digital product or service that children in Maryland are likely to access.
- If passed, children and their parents would no longer be left to address the unfair handling of children’s data at the hands of data-hungry companies.
- It would restrict data collection and profiling of children in ways that are detrimental to them. This would reduce the risk of harmful conduct, contracts, risky connections, and addictive online features being pushed towards Maryland’s children.
- This bill offers a proven framework that has led to tangible and historic change in the U.K. and in other US States. Maryland’s youth deserve the same protection.
- American children deserve better protection: 59% of US teens have been bullied or harassed online, and a similar share say it's a major problem for people their age.
- Social media companies are currently failing and this bill calls for companies to apply common sense product safety practices before offering online products, services, or features that children are likely to access to the public.
- Leaked Instagram documents said the platform is exacerbating body image problems for 1 in 3 teen girls. 6% of US teens link their interest in suicide directly to the platform.
More information
Maryland is the latest state to weigh online safety rules for kids
Washington Post. 13 February 2023.
Washington Post. 13 February 2023.