“We are extremely disappointed in Senator Blackburn and condemn her transphobic and hurtful remarks. It is unfortunate that her personal beliefs have muddied the discussion on the Kids Online Safety Act – legislation that will protect young people from the real online harms we face.
The bill has undergone important revisions based on continuous input received from advocates, including members of the LGBTQ+ community. It holds Big Tech accountable for its harmful, profit-driven algorithms that continue to compromise the safety and well-being of young people, especially transgender youth.
We’re youth activists, not lawyers or lobbyists. We’ve learned through our advocacy that bipartisanship is the pathway to mitigate against online harms. Despite the political, logistical, and personal challenges of bipartisanship, however, we cannot give up hope for progress on online safety legislation. We’re concerned about what will happen to our youngest generations without meaningful reform. We urge the bill’s supporters to re-center the experiences of the young people who will be most impacted by this bill, no matter who they are.”
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