American Family Association Action (AFA Action), is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical, family values in society and government by educating and influencing public policy. AFA Action is also the Governmental Affairs Affiliate of American Family Association (AFA).
TUPELO, Miss. — Today, the Mississippi House and Senate passed the Keeping Kids Safe Online Act (HB 1224). The bill authorizes the state to enforce civil penalties against social media platforms that subject kids to harm by addicting them to social media. The bill also allows parents of children who have repeatedly been exposed to pornography through these addictive platforms to recover damages.
“Just last week, New Mexico and California juries handed down landmark verdicts finding social media platforms liable for harming kids. Now, the Mississippi Legislature has passed the Keeping Kids Safe Online Act, which creates the same pathway in Mississippi law to hold these Big Tech companies accountable for harming children,” said Trey Dellinger, senior legal fellow for AFA Action, the governmental affairs affiliate of the American Family Association. “These platforms expose kids to sexual predators, human trafficking, sexual extortion and child pornography. Parents need help with commonsense laws like this so that they can better protect their children.”
The Keeping Kids Safe Online Act empowers the Mississippi Attorney General to impose civil penalties of $10,000 per violation if online platforms make false representations about the safety of their products for minors under 18, or fail to make disclosures and warn of the dangers of social media. Platforms that use addictive features for kids are likewise liable. The bill also requires public schools in Mississippi to offer an internet safety curriculum for grades 6-12.
“AFA Action applauds Mississippi lawmakers for partnering with parents to keep Mississippi kids safe online,” said Dr. Jameson Taylor, Director of AFA Action’s Center for Government Renewal. “Representative Joey Hood, the bill’s author, has been a tireless champion for this legislation. Senator Brice Wiggins led the charge in the Mississippi Senate. We cannot thank them enough for their leadership on behalf of Mississippi parents and children. Thank you, also, to Speaker Jason White and Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann for their support.”
AFA Action is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical family values in society and government by shaping public policy through education and advocacy. The mission of AFA Action is to inform and mobilize individuals to strengthen the biblical foundations of America by persuading individuals with the truth of the Gospel, challenging the lost to repent, promoting societal values that are consistent with Scripture, restraining evil and exposing the works of darkness, motivating people to take a stand on cultural and moral issues, and encouraging Christians to bear witness to the world the love of Jesus Christ. Find AFA Action Alerts here.
For more information on the American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or X.
For more information on AFA Action, visit www.afaaction.net or follow AFA Action on Facebook or X.
To interview an AFA or AFA Action spokesperson, contact Hamilton Strategies, [email protected] or Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.
AFA Action is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical, family values in society and government by educating and influencing public policy. AFA Action is also the Governmental Affairs Affiliate of American Family Association.