For Immediate Release
Press Contact: press@mdkidscode.com
ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Kids Code Coalition released the following statement after the House Economic Matters Committee passed the Maryland Kids Code (HB 603) with a unanimous vote:
“We applaud the House Economic Matters Committee for today’s vote in favor of the Maryland Kids Code, and we’re especially grateful to Chair C.T. Wilson and Delegate Jared Solomon for their leadership. By backing the Kids Code, our legislators are proving that the united voices of youth, parents, and experts outweighs Big Tech’s self-serving narratives. As giant Silicon Valley companies continue to prioritize profit-seeking over keeping kids safe, our resolve grows even stronger to pass this critical legislation to protect Maryland youth from online exploitation and harm.”
Learn more about the Maryland Kids Code
Community voices calling for the 2024 Maryland Kids Code
- Todd Minor, Sr. – A TikTok challenge killed our son; now we fight for other children’s safety (Baltimore Sun, 1/24/24)
- Elizabeth Elliott – School nurse: Social media exacerbates teen health crisis by design (Maryland Matters, 1/12/24)
- Del. CT Wilson – Protect children from online abuse, addiction linked to social media (Baltimore Banner, 1/8/24)
- Gabriela Romo – Time for parents to start holding tech platforms accountable (MoCo360, 1/5/24)
Why we need action on Kids Code legislation
- U.S. Surgeon General – Advisory on Social Media & Youth Mental Health
- Pew Research Center – Teens, Social Media & Technology 2023
- Children and Screens Institute for Digital Media – Social Media, Drugs & Youth
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – Social Media Platforms Generate Billions in Annual Ad Revenue from U.S. Youth
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