Meta Seeks Legal Shield From Child-Harm Lawsuits Amid KOSA Talks

Meta Platforms is reportedly lobbying U.S. lawmakers to include legal protections for social media companies in the proposed Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a move that could significantly impact thousands of lawsuits alleging harm to children from platforms such as Instagram.

According to Reuters, Meta has pushed for legislative language that would provide online platforms with immunity from certain state-law claims related to the safety and privacy of minors. The proposal emerges as Meta faces mounting legal challenges from young users and their families who claim social media features contributed to mental health issues, addiction, and other harms.

The proposed provision would shield online companies from lawsuits involving losses or damages connected to the online safety or privacy of individuals under 18. It also includes language that could override various state-level child safety and privacy laws. Legal experts warn that, if enacted, the measure could weaken or eliminate many existing cases against social media companies.

Meta spokesperson Stephanie Otway rejected claims that the proposal would grant blanket immunity. She stated that the language is intended to establish consistent national standards for youth online safety rather than allowing a patchwork of state regulations or court-driven interpretations to govern the industry.

Critics disagree. Julia Duncan of the American Association for Justice argued that the proposal would effectively protect social media and artificial intelligence companies from accountability in child-harm cases. She contended that the language could invalidate lawsuits already filed by parents, schools, and other parties seeking damages.

Sources familiar with the discussions said Meta has offered support for KOSA in exchange for the liability protections. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal, would require social media platforms to take reasonable measures to reduce risks to minors, including harms linked to infinite scrolling, activity notifications, and appearance-altering photo filters.

A spokesperson for Blackburn said the senator had not seen the proposed language and would not support such a provision. KOSA previously passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2024 but failed to advance in the House. The bill has since been reintroduced and remains a key focus of ongoing debates over online child safety, social media regulation, and platform accountability in the United States.