KOSA and AI: How New Legislation is Changing the Online World for Children

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approved the crucial Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) on August 5, 2026, advancing it to the Senate floor. This legislation represents a significant shift in how children are protected in the digital space, placing new responsibilities on technology platforms. While Europe's Digital Services Act (DSA) has already introduced stricter rules, KOSA in the U.S. complements a global trend aimed at addressing the growing risks associated with artificial intelligence and social media.

What KOSA Brings and How It Affects Platforms

KOSA introduces a 'duty of care' for online platforms, meaning they must take reasonable steps to prevent harm to minor users. This applies to social media, online video games, messaging apps, and streaming services. Platforms will be required to provide the safest possible default settings and allow parents to disable addictive features and opt out of algorithmic recommendations.

KOSA focuses on limiting children's exposure to harmful content, such as topics related to eating disorders, self-harm, cyberbullying, and sexual exploitation. Furthermore, the Youth AI Privacy Act is on the horizon, which will prohibit targeted advertising to minors through AI chatbots and restrict how long companies can retain and use memory from interactions with minors. This is important because AI chatbots, while offering support, are not a substitute for human interaction and can lead to false connections or even reinforce negative thought patterns.

The Impact of AI on Children's and Adolescents' Mental Health

Artificial intelligence and social media have a demonstrable impact on the mental health of young people. Studies show that over 60% of sixteen- to seventeen-year-olds fall into the low digital well-being category, compared to less than 40% of children aged 8–15. Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face approximately double the risk of symptoms of depression and anxiety. These platforms often validate a user's feelings without critically challenging them, which can reinforce negative thoughts in vulnerable individuals.

Another emerging risk is cyberbullying, which, with the advent of AI, is escalating to a new level through the use of deepfake videos and images. This manipulated content can cause severe psychological impacts, including shame, fear, and social anxiety. Moreover, cyberbullying does not end when school is over; it often continues online 24/7, making escape difficult for victims. According to a 2023 study by the Cyberbullying Research Center, 26.5% of middle and high school students experienced cyberbullying within 30 days of being surveyed, with school avoidance due to cyberbullying nearly doubling from 2016 to 2023.

How Europe Learns from Similar Challenges: The TikTok and DSA Case

The European Union previously introduced the Digital Services Act (DSA), which obligates online platforms to protect minor users and prohibits targeted advertising based on profiling. An example of active enforcement is the European Commission's preliminary finding in July 2026 that TikTok violated DSA requirements by allowing minors' accounts and content to remain too widely visible, including to adults and users without a TikTok account. The Commission found that the platform's settings could expose children to unwanted contact, cyberbullying, and predatory behavior.

This case demonstrates that legislation is just the beginning. Real protection requires continuous oversight and the willingness of regulators to intervene. At one-o-one, we have repeatedly seen that even the best rules are ineffective without the active involvement and education of all stakeholders – from children to parents to schools. This is where I see the greatest value in sharing experiences and practical recommendations that go beyond simply describing the law.

What Parents and Schools Can Do: Concrete Steps for Digital Well-being

Legislation like KOSA and DSA forms a foundation, but true digital well-being for children depends on an active approach and digital literacy. Here are some concrete steps that can be implemented immediately:

Checklist for Parents and Schools:

• Familiarize yourselves with privacy settings: Regularly check and set the strictest possible privacy and security settings on all platforms children use. Utilize parental controls and time management tools.
• Open communication: Create an environment where children feel safe to talk about their online experiences without fear of judgment or immediate bans.
• Critical thinking about AI: Teach children to recognize when they are interacting with AI and to critically evaluate the information they receive from it. Explain that AI chatbots are not therapists and do not possess real emotions or context.
• Cyberbullying prevention: Educate children about what cyberbullying is, how to recognize it, and how to defend themselves. Emphasize the importance of not spreading harmful content, including deepfake videos. Schools should have clear procedures for reporting and addressing incidents.
• Support digital well-being: Encourage a balance between online and offline activities. Monitor for signs of low digital well-being (e.g., disturbed sleep, anxiety, isolation) and seek professional help if needed.
• Digital literacy in the curriculum: Schools should integrate digital literacy, media education, and AI ethics into their teaching. The European Commission recently updated its guidelines for teachers, focusing on combating disinformation and developing critical thinking in the digital age.

Inaction Has Its Price

If we, as parents or schools, do not actively address digital safety and literacy, we risk our children becoming passive recipients of content and easy targets for manipulation or cyberbullying. The opportunity to develop critical thinking, healthy digital habits, and the ability to build meaningful real-world relationships – all crucial 21st-century skills – is lost. The consequence can be an increase in anxiety, depression, and social isolation among young people, as data on declining digital well-being confirms.

When General Advice Isn't Enough

Legal frameworks and general recommendations are a good start, but a comprehensive solution for children's digital safety requires an individualized approach and a deep understanding of online dynamics. Especially for schools and larger educational institutions facing pressure to implement new rules while effectively educating hundreds of students, general advice is no longer sufficient. In such situations, when systemic processes need to be set up, educators trained, crisis plans developed, or digital literacy strategically integrated into the curriculum, bringing in an experienced partner makes sense. We help schools with projects that include auditing the digital environment, creating preventive programs, and implementing tools for safe online behavior for students, all in line with the latest legislative requirements and pedagogical trends.

Next Step

Start by auditing digital habits in your household or school. Evaluate what platforms are used, what privacy settings are in place, and how open communication is about online experiences. Subsequently, create an action plan to improve digital well-being and safety, ideally using the checklist above. If you feel overwhelmed, do not hesitate to seek external expert assistance – investing in children's digital safety is an investment in their future.