Design It For Us on Enactment of Maryland Kids Code

Design It For Us co-chair Arielle Geismar issued the following statement on the Maryland Kids Code coming into effect:

“Today, the Maryland Kids Code will come into effect for almost 1.4 million young Marylanders, marking a historic moment in the fight to protect young people online. This landmark legislation is the first in the United States to offer long overdue protection for my generation so that we can experience an online environment safe from sustained exploitation and undue harm at the hands of Big Tech. This is a success that we share with the countless parents, teachers, community members, and advocates who have fought tirelessly in support of this legislation.  

“We are grateful to the Maryland legislature and Governor Wes Moore for ensuring this win for the families and youth who are most vulnerable to Big Tech’s toxic business practices. The enactment of this legislation shows that Big Tech is capable of complying with safety-by-design and privacy-by-default requirements that meaningfully prioritize the wellbeing of young users. With that in mind, we have the opportunity to continue the momentum in our fight to hold Big Tech accountable nationwide.”

Design It For Us first started as a campaign effort to pass the California Age-Appropriate Design Code in 2022 and has since become a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media and online platforms for kids, teens, and young adults. Design It For Us advocates met with lawmakers and testified before the Maryland General Assembly to support the unanimous and bipartisan passage of the Maryland Kids Code. 

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