Is Mark Zuckerberg Outsmarting Congress on Kids’ Online Safety?

Meta’s CEO is shifting blame to Apple and Google — and winning Republican allies in the process.

Mark Zuckerberg, once the poster child for Silicon Valley’s youth safety failures, is now lobbying Congress to target his rivals instead of Meta. With ads flooding Washington and GOP leaders shelving bills that would hold his platforms accountable, Zuckerberg’s strategy is gaining traction. But is this pivot a genuine solution for protecting kids — or a corporate power play? Let’s dive in.

🔍 The Problem: A Lobbying Masterclass in Deflection

• 🚨 KOSA Shelved: In 2025, Zuckerberg convinced House Speaker Mike Johnson to block the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which would’ve forced Instagram and Facebook to redesign features linked to bullying, eating disorders, and exploitation.
• 💸 $24 Million Lobbying Blitz: Meta spent more than any U.S. company in 2024 to push its agenda, including donations to Trump’s causes and GOP PACs.
• 👥 Parental Backlash: Over 40 states have sued Meta for harms to minors, while whistleblowers revealed internal studies showing Instagram’s risks to teen mental health.
• 🗽 First Amendment Shield: Meta and Johnson argue KOSA would enable censorship — despite bipartisan Senate support (63-34 vote).

✅ Zuckerberg’s Solution: Make Apple and Google the Gatekeepers

• 📱 App Store Age Verification: Meta’s ads urge Congress to force Apple/Google to verify users’ ages and get parental consent for app downloads — shifting responsibility away from social platforms.
• 🤝 Unexpected Allies: Parent groups like Utah’s Melissa McKay successfully pushed state laws requiring app store age checks, giving Meta cover to endorse the concept.
• ⚖️ Contract Law Twist: Utah’s law (and copycat bills in 14 states) argues minors can’t legally agree to app terms, forcing stores to verify ages or face lawsuits.

⚠️ The Challenges: Loopholes, Lawsuits, and Lingering Risks

• 🌐 Browser Bypass: Kids could still access social media via web browsers, rendering app store rules ineffective.
• 📜 Constitutional Concerns: A federal court blocked California’s similar law, citing First Amendment issues — a precedent that could doom KOSA.
• 🎯 Meta’s Hidden Agenda: Advocates note Meta wants age verification at 16 (not 18), letting teens use Instagram freely while appearing “pro-safety.”
• 🍎 Apple Pushes Back: “We don’t ask malls to check ages for food courts,” argues Apple, claiming apps — not stores — should handle verification.

🚀 Final Thoughts: A High-Stakes Game of Hot Potato

Zuckerberg’s strategy hinges on two truths: parents want simpler controls, and Congress prefers tech battles that don’t involve picking content winners/losers. But success isn’t guaranteed:

• 📈 If courts strike down state laws, Meta’s plan collapses.
• 📉 If KOSA revives, Zuckerberg faces design mandates he’s spent millions to avoid.
• 🤝 Bipartisan bills like the TAKE IT DOWN Act (targeting AI deepfakes) could sidestep the app store debate entirely.

One thing’s clear: Meta’s lobbying machine has turned a youth safety crisis into a chess match between tech giants. But will kids actually be safer — or just harder to sue? What do YOU think?

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Sources: Ruth Reader. How Mark Zuckerberg is flipping the script on kids’ safety online, April 20, 2025. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/20/zuckerbergs-enlisting-the-gop-against-tech-rivals-apple-and-google-00295945