Support Kids Online Safety Act
HJR 28 is a joint resolution in which the Alaska Legislature formally urges the United States Congress and the President to enact S. 1748, the Kids Online Safety Act. The resolution states that children and adolescents increasingly rely on online platforms, social media, messaging apps, games, and streaming services, and that these services can expose minors to harmful content, harassment, addictive design features, privacy risks, exploitation, and mental health harms. It frames the federal bill as a response to concerns about cyberbullying, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and self-harm associated with excessive online exposure.
The resolution describes the Kids Online Safety Act as requiring covered platforms to adopt safety tools and design safeguards for users under 17, including default privacy protections, limits on compulsive features, and options to opt out of harmful algorithmic recommendations. It also highlights provisions that would restrict certain research on children and minors, give parents tools to manage privacy and screen time, and require transparency through audits and public reporting. The resolution further notes that enforcement would involve the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, and that the act would create a Kids Online Safety Council to advise Congress on emerging risks to minors online.
HJR 28 does not change Alaska statutes or create state-level regulatory requirements; instead, it is a formal legislative endorsement of federal action. Its practical effect is to place Alaska on record in support of federal legislation that would impose new duties on online platforms regarding child safety, privacy, algorithmic recommendations, parental controls, transparency, and enforcement. The resolution also signals support for a federal framework that could affect platforms operating nationwide, including those used by Alaska families and minors.
The sentiment reflected in the bill text and the vote history is strongly supportive. The resolution passed the Alaska House 36-3 and the Senate 20-0, indicating broad bipartisan agreement that online safety protections for children and teens are needed. The language of the resolution is emphatic and protective, emphasizing privacy, mental health, and accountability as reasons for Congress to act.
The main points of contention are not detailed in committee transcripts, but the narrow House opposition suggests some disagreement about whether the federal proposal goes too far in regulating online platforms or restricting research and product design. Potential concerns include the scope of platform obligations, the role of state attorneys general in enforcement, and whether the bill could affect speech, innovation, or data practices. Even so, the overwhelming vote margins indicate that any objections were limited and did not prevent passage.