Keep Wisconsin Kids Safe Online
As governor, Sara Rodriguez will protect kids from predatory tech companies and hold Big Tech accountable for harms to children.
Our kids are growing up online, and tech companies are exploiting them for profit. Social media platforms are designed to be addictive, hooking kids on endless scrolling and damaging their mental health. Predators use apps and games to target children. Companies collect massive amounts of data on kids without parents' knowledge or consent. And algorithms push dangerous content – eating disorders, self-harm, suicide, violence – because it keeps kids engaged and keeps profits rolling in.
This didn't happen by accident. Tech companies designed it this way. They studied how to make their platforms as addictive as possible. They buried parental controls and privacy settings. They lobbied against regulation. And they prioritized growth and profits over the safety and well-being of children. Parents are doing everything they can – monitoring screen time, setting limits, having conversations – but they're up against billion-dollar companies with teams of engineers whose job is to override parental control and keep kids hooked. Parents shouldn't have to fight tech giants alone. We can protect kids online, hold companies accountable, and give parents the tools they need – but only if we're willing to stand up to Big Tech. Sara Rodriguez will.
Hold Big Tech Companies and Tech CEOs Accountable for Harm
Allow parents to sue social media companies when platforms lead to addiction and promote damaging content to children – including content related to eating disorders, substance abuse, self-harm, or exploitation
Hold tech companies accountable when social media companies and AI chatbots cause harm to kids.
Wisconsin families fought to protect kids against Big Tobacco, and won. Now it’s time to fight to protect our kids from Big Tech.
Support Cell Phone-Free Schools
Support and strengthen legislative efforts to ban cell phones during the entire school day in Wisconsin schools.
Phone-free schools help kids focus on learning, reduce cyberbullying during school hours, and take pressure off parents by creating environments where kids aren't constantly connected to their devices.
This complements platform accountability by addressing both the technology and the environment where kids use it.
Ban Addictive Design Features for Kids
Prohibit online platforms from deploying addictive features designed to maximize screen time and cause addiction for users under the age of 18 - including infinite scroll, autoplay, and manipulative notifications – applying to all platforms regardless of size.
Kids' brains are still developing, making them more vulnerable to addiction by design – tech companies know this and exploit their vulnerability by hiring psychologists and brain scientists to manipulate them into compulsively using their platforms.
Recent legislation requires some large platforms to turn off these features for kids – Sara's plan bans them from being accessed by kids in the first place.
Unlike the Assembly bills, Sara’s plan puts the responsibility on tech companies to prevent kids from accessing addictive features – not on parents.
Ban Surveillance Advertising to Children
Prohibit all forms of surveillance advertising to anyone under the age of 18, including ads based on kids’ personal data, browsing history, political views, religious beliefs, or algorithmic profiling.
Tech companies shouldn't be spying on kids across the internet to sell their data to advertisers or manipulate their behavior.
Platforms must verify age without requiring invasive data collection from parents.
Strengthen Protections Against Online Predators
Support stronger criminal penalties for online child exploitation, grooming, and sextortion.
Require platforms to implement proactive detection and reporting systems to identify and remove predatory behavior.
Ensure law enforcement has the training and resources to investigate online crimes against children.
Hold tech companies accountable when their products sexualize kids, including creating nonconsensual sexual imagery of kids and by engaging in sexual roleplay conversations with minors.
Require Transparency and Independent Audits
Require social media platforms to disclose how their algorithms work, what content is being promoted to children, and what data is being collected.
Independent audits will verify compliance with safety standards and identify harm.
Parents and policymakers deserve to know what these platforms are doing to our kids and whether they are keeping our kids safe.
Create an Office of Digital and Technology Policy
Establish an executive branch office to coordinate across state agencies and strengthen protections for kids online, modernize technological governance, and lead state efforts in online safety, artificial intelligence oversight, cybersecurity, and emerging technology policy.
This office will modernize our approach to digital governance, ensuring strong consumer protections, safeguarding kids and families, and strengthening Wisconsin’s commitment to innovation, economic growth, and responsible leadership in emerging industries.