Bipartisan Press Conference Honors Victims of Online Harm and Urges Congress to Reform Section 230
SACRAMENTO, CA — Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Diane Dixon, and Josh Lowenthal, joined by child safety advocates and family organizations, marked the inaugural Social Media Victims Remembrance Day in Sacramento. The bipartisan coalition gathered to honor victims of social media-related harms and to call on Congress to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the federal liability shield that has long allowed online platforms to avoid accountability for harm to users.
Two resolutions were introduced:
- ACR 224 — Officially designates June 23rd as Social Media Victims Remembrance Day in the state of California.
- HR 117 — Calls on Congress to reform Section 230, which currently prevents users from holding platforms legally accountable for harms occurring on their services.
The urgency behind today's event is clear. Research from Common Sense Media finds that parents and young people alike identify social media as the leading driver of the youth mental health crisis, and overwhelming majorities of both groups support requiring platforms to adopt stronger safety measures. Yet under current law, Section 230 gives social media platforms near-blanket immunity from liability for the harms their products facilitate, including to children. Without reform, these companies face virtually no legal obligation to protect users from the harms occurring on their platforms.
"Today we remember the children and families whose lives have been devastated by the unchecked harms of social media platforms," said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, joint author of both resolutions. "One child losing her life is too many and deserves government action; it is past time for accountability. Our children deserve nothing less. This is not a partisan issue, it is a public health and safety issue, and California is leading the call for federal accountability."
“While an incredibly valuable tool, the internet and social media present significant risks, especially to adolescents, through the perpetuation and promotion of harmful and dangerous behaviors,” Said Assemblymember Diane Dixon. “Commemorating Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of social media and to advocate for measures to effectively mitigate these harms. It is important for us to recognize and honor those who have been harmed by social media – the victims, the survivors, and their families and friends.”
The press conference also featured testimony from advocates representing families directly affected by platform harms. Juliana Arnold of Parents Rising shared personal stories of the toll social media has taken on children and families. Tamira Daniely of Children's Now highlighted the need for corporate accountability and stronger protections for young users. Mikey Hothi from Common Sense Media spoke to the magnitude of the social media crisis and shared report findings. Kel O’Hara from Equal Rights Advocates addressed the systemic failures of Section 230 and the scale of online harms facing children today. Assemblymembers Liz Ortega and Diane Papan further highlighted the harms of social media and joined the call for federal reform. Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan also recognized the California Legislative Women's Caucus for its presence and support.
“The policies discussed today are remarkably universal,” said Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal. “We are seeing similar laws passing across continents, cultures, and languages. And there is a rare agreement across the political spectrum on the need for this kind of legislation. That’s because our love for our children transcends political identity, borders, and language. Because there is a staunch belief that shareholder profit should never supersede the life of a child. And because, as parents, we are frankly just fed up. We want our kids to have lives away from their phones, to wake up feeling good about themselves, and to focus on the present, not videos made in the past. And it is through diverse coalitions like this one today, as well as through enduring remembrance, that we build toward that future.”
