Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) announced on Mar. 23 the introduction of a bipartisan bill, known as Sammy’s Law, aimed at giving parents more tools to protect their children from dangers on social media platforms.
The legislation is designed to address growing concerns about the risks children face online, including exposure to drug dealers and online predators. The bill seeks to empower parents by allowing them access to safety notifications through third-party providers regulated by the Federal Trade Commission.
“Parents deserve to know what their kids are exposed to online and have the ability to protect them and save lives,” Husted said. He was joined in introducing the bill by Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.), with a companion measure introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.).
Warner said, “Parents are struggling to protect their kids from the harmful effects of social media, where children are more exposed than ever to cyberbullying, eating disorders, and other online threats to their wellbeing. Sammy’s Law will give parents the choice to be alerted of concerning behaviors on social media, while protecting their personal information.” Britt added that if such legislation had been in place earlier, “Sammy would likely still be with us today,” referring to Sammy Chapman who died after receiving fentanyl-laced drugs via social media.
The proposed law would require large platforms—those with over 100 million monthly users or $1 billion in annual revenue—to make real-time data accessible for safety monitoring software registered with the FTC. It would alert parents when certain warning signs arise related to issues like eating disorders or suicidal ideation.
Statements supporting Sammy’s Law came from families affected by these dangers as well as advocacy groups such as Organization for Social Media Safety and others who believe third-party safety software can help prevent tragedies caused by cyberbullying or exploitation.
Husted has previously worked on similar initiatives including bills focused on preventing minors’ access to fentanyl through social media and protecting children’s data privacy online. According to his official website, Husted serves on Senate committees focused on health, education, labor and pensions; small business; environment; public works; and aging.
He has also held leadership roles as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives before serving as Ohio secretary of state and lieutenant governor prior to joining the U.S. Senate according to his official biography. Husted earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Dayton according to his official website.
Looking ahead, supporters say passage of Sammy’s Law could represent an important step toward increasing accountability for tech companies while giving families more oversight over children’s digital experiences.
