Republicans Focus on Social Media's Impact on Children

By John D. McKinnon

Republicans are focusing almost exclusively on the effects of social media on children in their questions for the executives.

It's early days yet. But that issue could become fodder for an eventual legislative bargain that would be similar to the one that led to Section 230 in the first place.

Section 230 was a part of a much larger package known as the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which sought to restrict access to obscene, indecent and offensive materials online for people under the age of 18. Section 230 was added to the legislation to balance the package for the platforms.

Ultimately the Supreme Court struck down all the restrictions but left Section 230 intact. Republicans could be starting to make a case for trying again on measures to shield children from some online content, possibly as part of a package that would also reform 230.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 25, 2021 14:08 ET (18:08 GMT)

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