This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-Talk (8255).
When my 16-year-old son, Mason, went through a tough breakup, he did something many young people do today—he turned to TikTok.
Mason sought out uplifting messages and encouraging quotes on social media. Unfortunately, TikTok’s algorithm led him to dark, distressing content that urged him toward self-harm and suicide. Tragically, in November 2022, he took his own life.
The things I uncovered on his phone haunt me even now. I truly believe that TikTok and other social media platforms should be held accountable when their algorithms contribute to such harm.
It’s incredibly disheartening to learn that, without much public discourse, Congress is moving forward with a sweeping federal moratorium. This would effectively shield the nation from addressing the issues of children’s exposure to harmful content and the threats they face online.
The moratorium is embedded in a large and poorly examined legislative package, a fact that most Americans may not even realize until it’s too late. It would prohibit states from implementing virtually any laws related to artificial intelligence, including those that “regulate automated decision-making.”
This means potentially sidelining important legislation meant to empower parents—like enforceable safe default settings, mandatory age verification, and measures to reduce addictive features.
Additionally, it would halt laws such as Florida’s Online Protection Act, which aims to limit minors’ access to harmful material.
Similarly, New York’s proposed Children’s Act focuses on stopping businesses from utilizing addictive, algorithm-driven feeds without parental consent.
Moreover, the moratorium undermines protections for minors offered by Utah’s Social Media Act, which mandates businesses to disclose data linked to social media accounts aimed at young users.
The risk is not just theoretical. Consider Megan Garcia, who lost her son after he encountered AI-created content. Or the many families dealing with children manipulated by deepfakes or isolating AI “friends” that encourage harmful behavior. Currently, there are no safeguards in place to prevent children from being exploited, misled, or addicted by AI technologies.
Some people might argue that a solid federal AI framework is on the horizon. However, for the past two decades, I’ve heard similar claims about privacy, data handling, and content control. The long-standing notion of “just wait” cannot justify stripping states of their rights to protect their most vulnerable citizens.
In more than 25 years, Congress has failed to pass a single piece of legislation aimed at safeguarding children online, yet now, it seems eager to limit state actions in the name of hastening an AI race that jeopardizes child safety.
Big Tech claims that a patchwork of state laws hampers innovation, but what’s really at stake is accountability. These companies resist regulation because they prefer fewer rules, demonstrating how some Congressional allies are content to silence states that wish to enact protections for families.
This moratorium isn’t merely a precaution against sensible laws designed to safeguard youth—it’s rationalized in the name of “innovation” and profit, favoring tech giants while ignoring parental concerns.
There is a bipartisan effort to halt this reckless overreach, allowing states to take action when federal lawmakers do not. Every member of Congress must support this amendment to prevent further loss of young lives due to online dangers. Protecting children is not a political matter; it’s a moral one.
We understand what happens when Congress decides to regulate large tech companies—nothing changes. Children continue to suffer, and families like mine are left to cope with the aftermath.
We urgently require genuine protective measures for our youth. This moratorium should not become a behind-the-scenes deal that silences the voices of parents, supporters, and national leaders striving to enact real change. It’s a smokescreen that big tech hopes to push through and must be stopped.
