The US House of Representatives passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act on Monday with bipartisan support, advancing legislation that would require online platforms to introduce new safeguards for children while setting up negotiations with the Senate, which favours tougher protections.

The bill passed by 267 votes to 117 and marks the House's first major attempt to regulate online child safety since the Senate overwhelmingly approved the Kids Online Safety Act in 2024. Under the proposal, online platforms would have to provide tools allowing children to limit addictive features and adopt policies aimed at protecting young users from harms including sexual exploitation.

The House legislation omits a controversial "duty of care" provision included in the Senate bill, which would require social media companies to design products with children's safety in mind. House negotiators instead reached a bipartisan compromise that preserves states' ability to enact stronger child safety laws than any federal standard.

House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Brett Guthrie said: "At its core, this legislation sends a simple message: Children deserve a safer online experience. Technology companies must be held accountable when they fail to protect young users." Reuters previously reported that Guthrie and the committee's senior Democrat, Frank Pallone, described the agreement as common ground that would "significantly improve the digital environment for kids."

Several senators and House Democrats argued the legislation should go further before becoming law. Senator Maria Cantwell said: "The bottom line is that this package has gutted many of the key provisions in the Senate bill necessary to protect kids and their families," referring to the absence of the duty of care requirement that Senate supporters regard as essential.

The legislation now faces further scrutiny in the Senate, where lawmakers including Senator Marsha Blackburn have continued to back stronger standards based on the earlier Senate proposal. Any final measure would need approval from both chambers before being sent to President Donald Trump for signature.

The debate comes as lawmakers have increased pressure on technology companies over the impact of social media on young users. At least 20 US states enacted laws addressing children's use of social media last year, while companies including Meta, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat continue to face lawsuits alleging their platforms were designed in ways that harm young people.

The House vote comes weeks after the White House urged the UK not to introduce a proposed ban on social media for under-16s, arguing in a submission to the British government's online safety consultation that broad restrictions would place a "disproportionate" burden on US technology companies and favouring parental controls and platform safeguards over outright bans.

The differing position highlights a potential contrast between the Trump administration's opposition to access restrictions overseas and bipartisan support in Congress for imposing new child safety obligations on online platforms.

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