Biden to Discuss Online Safety for Children at State of the Union Address

In his upcoming second State of the Union address, United States President Joe Biden is expected to discuss children's online safety issues. As per the release from the White House, the president will call on bipartisan lawmakers to ban harmful advertisements to protect children's privacy.

President Biden Delivers His First State Of The Union Address To Joint Session Of Congress — WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 01: US President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol House Chamber on March 1, 2022 in Washington, DC. During his first State of the Union address, President Joe Biden was expected to speak on his administration’s efforts to lead a global response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, work to curb inflation, and bring the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images) Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images

President Biden's 2nd State of the Union

Tech companies will be Biden's target audience discussing data privacy and online safety this Tuesday night. CNBC reported that he would demand these companies' algorithms and processes for collecting Americans' data.

The president believes that it is the responsibility of the companies, not the consumer, to minimize the amount of data they collect, especially since these platforms do not enforce their terms of service concerning minors.

Administration plans will be discussed on the surgeon general's youth mental health advisory, the Department of Health and Human Services' new Center of Excellence on Social Media and Mental Wellness, and the Children and Media Research Advancement Act.

Calling for bipartisanship on tech matters is notable as congress will complicate the landscape for passing legislation in any domain. The president's stance to focus on tech may be a rare scenario for progress.

Based on the released outline, Bloomberg reported that compelling and growing evidence already exists that social media can harm mental health, well-being, and development. "Children, adolescents, and teens are especially vulnerable to such harm," the outline added.

His address will be the first time since 2019 that the president and leaders of the congress are permitted to bring their guests to the State of the Union address. For the last three years, it was only attended by every member of the House and Senate, all nine Supreme Court Justices, most of the president's cabinet members, and the diplomatic corps.

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Previous Address

These expected topics are similar to the president's comments during the 2022 address last year. TechCrunch reported that Biden highlighted the mental health impacts of social media on children and teenagers.

He specifically commended Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen as he leaked documents that led to five Senate hearings on children's online safety. Haugen was also invited by First Lady Dr. Jill Bide to the event as a special guest, indicating the president's attention to her advocacy.

The five hearings resulted in the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) introduction last year by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn. This bill would require companies to provide minor users with the option to protect their information by disabling addictive product features and algorithmic recommendations.

The Verge reported that Biden also requested $5 million in his 2023 budget to start research regarding this issue. He claimed that social media harms the mental health and the clinical and societal interventions of the users.