As both a parent and the Mayor of Manvel, protecting kids — including my own — in an increasingly digital world is a responsibility I take seriously. The internet plays a major role in our children’s education, entertainment, and social lives, and while it offers tremendous opportunities, it also presents very real dangers. That’s why we must get online safety policy right.
Unfortunately, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is not the answer.
On the surface, KOSA sounds like a solution aimed at protecting children. But when you dig deeper, it becomes clear that this bill represents a massive federal overreach that runs directly counter to core Republican and conservative values — limited government, parental authority, individual liberty, and the protection of constitutional rights.
Let me be clear: I support efforts to keep our kids safe online. But KOSA gives broad authority to the federal government to decide what content is “appropriate,” opening the door to censorship and vague restrictions that could affect all users — not just children. It sets a dangerous precedent where unelected bureaucrats, not parents, decide what kids can and can’t access.
As a dad, I know my wife and I are the best people to make those decisions for our children — not Washington. And I believe parents across Texas feel the same. KOSA weakens the role of parents and places that decision-making power in the hands of a federal agency that doesn’t share your values and doesn’t know your child.
Even worse, KOSA would require platforms to implement invasive age-verification systems that put every American’s privacy and data security at risk, opening the floodgates for cybercrime and identity theft. That’s not protecting families — that’s making them more vulnerable.
If Congress truly wants to protect kids online, it should empower parents, not undermine them. It should invest in tools, resources, and education that help families make informed decisions —not push sweeping, vague legislation that sacrifices freedom in the name of safety.
We can and should work toward a safer internet for our children — but we must do it in a way that defends freedom, respects families, and avoids opening the door to government control over online speech.
Dan Davis is the mayor of Manvil City, Texas. Elected in 2023, he is one of the youngest mayors in the United States.