Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act

# Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act (HR 6499) - Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** This bill would require a comprehensive government study on safety tools available to parents and minors regarding internet and social media use. If passed, the bill would direct federal agencies to assess what parental control options, content filters, privacy settings, and other safety features currently exist on social media platforms and online services. The study would examine how effective these tools are, whether minors understand how to use them, and identify any gaps in available protections. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects parents of children using the internet and social media platforms, as well as social media companies and technology providers.

It could also influence federal regulators like the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) who would likely oversee the study. **Key Provisions & Current Status:** The bill focuses on information gathering rather than imposing new regulations—it would create a formal assessment of existing safety tools rather than mandate new ones. Specific protections would depend on the study's findings and any future legislation based on those results. Currently, the bill remains in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.