MADISON – The Kids Code Coalition today applauded the introduction of the Wisconsin Kids Code, legislation to make technology safer for young users and protect their privacy, by Representative Alex Joers (D-Waunakee), Representative Jill Billings (D-La Crosse), Representative Renuka Mayadev (D-Madison), and Senator Jeff Smith (D-Bruswick). Advocates including parents, families, educators and medical professionals hailed the lawmakers’ introduction of the age-appropriate design code bills as a landmark step in efforts to protect children and teens online.
“With the Wisconsin Kids Code, we have the opportunity to protect kids from dangerous social media platforms and A.I. chatbots instead of taking Big Tech CEOs at their word. As Jack’s mom, I’m fighting to make sure no other parent loses their child this way,” said parent advocate Carrie Harrison, who urged Wisconsin lawmakers to act on the legislation in memory of her son in a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel opinion article.
The consumer protection bill would require online products and services to provide safety-by-design and privacy-by-default protections for known minors.
Wisconsin joins a growing number of states in embracing the design-centered legislative approach, seizing the opportunity to make a real difference for kids with a proven, resilient model for keeping kids safer online, on social media, and with chatbots.
The Kids Code Coalition is a wide-ranging group of national and state organizations dedicated to improving youth online security and privacy by supporting policies that ensure companies prioritize kids’ and teens’ safety and developmental needs when designing digital platforms and products.
Learn More
- American Academy of Pediatrics – AAP Calls Calls for Creating a Child-Friendly Digital World
- Pew Research Center – Teens, Social Media and AI Chatbots 2025
- American Psychological Association – Potential risks of content, features, and functions: The science of how social media affects youth
- Harvard Chan School of Public Health – Social Media Platforms Generate Billions in Annual Ad Revenue From U.S. Youth
- Common Sense Media – Nearly 3 in 4 Teens Have Used AI Companions, New National Survey Finds
- U.S. Surgeon General – Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
- Federal Bureau of Investigation – Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers: Protecting Your Kids
- Children and Screens – UK Age-Appropriate Design Code Impact Assessment
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