REGULATORS PUSH FOR SEPARATE INTERNET FOR CHILDREN

Governments are taking aggressive steps to shield children from the internet's documented harms. The US House passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act in June, joining multiple countries implementing age verification systems or content restrictions for minors. Proponents argue a separate children's internet could address core problems: addictive platform design, mental health impacts, and predatory behavior. Rather than bans alone, advocates suggest building curated digital environments with age-appropriate content and stricter data protections. Technical and privacy challenges remain significant. Age verification systems require identity confirmation methods that raise their own privacy concerns. Meanwhile, platform operators face compliance costs, and enforcement across borders complicates implementation. The push reflects growing consensus that current regulatory approaches—relying on parental controls and platform self-regulation—have failed. Whether dedicated spaces prove effective or simply fragment the internet further depends heavily on implementation details and international coordination.