New Poll Reveals Washingtonians Want Stronger Online Protections for Kids and Teens

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 8, 2023—A new poll finds that Washington state residents have strong concerns about the risks that social media platforms pose to children's well-being and privacy. The survey of 596 Washington voters, which was commissioned by Common Sense Media, the American Psychological Association, and Issue One's Council for Responsible Social Media, adds to the growing momentum behind legislation pending in Congress right now to protect kids' online safety.

The poll results highlight the following key findings:

• A staggering 93% of Washington voters are concerned that social media use may harm the health and well-being of children and teens.
• 54% of Washington voters believe that parents today do not have the tools they need to ensure their children are safe online.
• 79% of Washington voters believe that tech companies need to do more to protect the privacy and well-being of kids and teens online.

These poll results underscore the growing demand for legislation in Congress to establish stronger protections for children and teens, in particular the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). KOSA will hold social media companies accountable for the practices that make their platforms harmful to kids and teens. The bill is supported by 48 senators from both major parties and is championed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). It was passed unanimously this summer by the Commerce Committee, chaired by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

"Washingtonians clearly believe there is an urgent need for greater protections for children and teens online," said James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media. "The results of this poll demonstrate that this is a bipartisan concern. The U.S. Congress must create a safer digital environment for our kids."

"This poll reflects a widespread concern that some uses of social media may harm children and teens' health – a concern that is supported by many scientific studies," said Mitch Prinstein, APA's Chief Science Officer. "Adolescence, a pivotal stage of brain development, often coincides with the onset of social media exposure leading to potential repercussions for mental health. As we navigate this digital era, it is crucial for legislators and policymakers to pay heed to these findings and work alongside scientists, parents, educators and social media companies to ensure technology fosters positive youth mental health."

"As demonstrated by these overwhelmingly bipartisan findings, there's one thing that Americans across the political spectrum agree on: We need responsible social media safeguards to protect the well-being of our kids," said former Majority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO), co-chair of Issue One's Council for Responsible Social Media. "This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It's about future generations and the critical need to protect the privacy and safety of kids and teens online right now. Fortunately, there is widespread bipartisan agreement on legislation in Congress that will help build a safer, healthier digital future for our children. It's time for our elected leaders to heed the calls from Americans across the country and adopt responsible safeguards without delay."

The full poll results and detailed demographic information can be found here.

About Common Sense

Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Learn more at commonsense.org.

About APA

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes over 146,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.

About Issue One's Council for Responsible Social Media

The Council for Responsible Social Media is a bipartisan group of more than 50 leaders from different sectors who have come together to create a healthier social media environment and find solutions to the technological harms to our kids, communities, and national security.

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