The campaign to pass Kids Code laws in multiple states is spearheaded by a coalition of youth and parent advocacy groups that espouses a “safety by design” approach to building online products that kids are likely to encounter. Members of the coalition include Common Sense Media, Design It for Us, the Center for Humane Technology and The Student Data Privacy Project.
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The unlikely alliance bringing the tech giants to heel
An alliance of little-known advocacy groups has convinced five states to pass laws to protect kids online and is now making inroads in Washington. The nonpartisan coalition has done it by delivering parents’ and kids’ stories about bullying and exploitative content on Facebook, TikTok and other platforms. By focusing on the harms to kids’ health, these organizations have helped enact laws in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland and New York meant to regulate social media for minors.
Advocates blast House for holding Kids Online Safety Act ‘hostage’
Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of the youth-led group Design It For Us, also pushed for quick action on KOSA after Thursday’s cancelled markup — especially given the dwindling legislative calendar. “With such limited time left this year, Congress does not have the luxury to keep kicking the can down the road. It’s time for our Congressional leaders to step up.”
Should social media come with a health warning, like cigarettes? Experts say it’s a start
“I think that young people have had a tremendous amount of stress and burden placed on them to have to figure out and police their own social media usage,” said Zamaan Qureshi, co-founder of Design it for Us, which pushes for safer social media for young people.
My Father’s Day request: A safer internet in honor of my lost son
The youth-led coalition, Design It For Us, placed hundreds of signs on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol, calling on lawmakers to pass legislation to require Big Tech to put young people’s safety and well-being ahead of profits, and design online platforms for kids, teens, and young adults at U.S. Capitol, West Lawn on July 17, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Politicians aim to regulate social media’s influence on young teens. What could this mean for Gen Z?
Zamaan Qureshi is the co-chair of Design It for Us, a youth advocacy group championing safe social media policy. He echoed the idea of “privacy and safety by design.”
“Even if users under the age of 13 are banned from social media, this does little to stem the threats of harmful design features and the targeting of toxic content many young people are exposed to,” Qureshi shared in an email to E2024.
NM Attorney General Torrez speaks about social media harms at town hall
Emma Lembke, founder of an organization called LOG OFF and Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of an organization called Design It For Us, also participated as panelists alongsize Torrez.
Virtual Town Hall – Social Media Panel
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, is part of a virtual town hall addressing youth and social media Wednesday evening. The event was hosted by NBC News journalist Kate Snow and also included youth social media advocates Emma Lembke and Zamaan Qureshi.
AG Torrez says social media safety for kids starts with high-tech companies
Torrez said seeing young adults like Lembke and fellow speaker Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of the Design It For Us campaign, which is intended to improve tech and social media with youth in mind, advocate for a safer online world.
Generation Swipe
ABC News’ Elizabeth Schulze spoke with Gen Zer’s on how social media companies can improve their experiences, as states pass laws meant to protect minors on and offline.