Panic, Privacy, and Protecting Youth: Unpacking Child Online Safety Laws

This podcast dives into the current wave of Child Online Safety Legislation (COSL), such as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), to unpack the political and societal forces driving these bipartisan bills. We critically examine the prevailing narrative that social media is the primary cause of the youth mental health crisis, exploring how "moral panics" over technology often ignore complex social realities. Furthermore, we discuss the potential unintended consequences of these legislative efforts, including severe threats to data privacy, free expression, and the well-being of marginalized youth through mandated age verification and expanded parental surveillance.   Sponsors: www.myprivacy.blog www.cisomarketplace.com