Fears About Kids’ Online Safety Unite Democrats and Republicans By Darius Tahir Oct. 13, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/elections/online-safety-children-kosa-legislation-unites-democrats-republicans-big-tech/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8eJK_RuitTxzb_CuPc64FReF_E1AFNYuiBth9l9pNYqkPXlxpUBlE2P1_JzhRUBnOljewEkgfmwF1nTZJLTjnYMa83YA&_hsmi=443876565&utm_content=443876565&utm_source=hs_email KFF Health News: Fears About Kids’ Online Safety Unite Democrats And Republicans The U.S. Senate candidates in Texas could hardly be more different: James Talarico, a former seminarian turned Democratic state lawmaker who speaks in calm cadences about love and empathy, and Ken Paxton, the pugnacious Republican state attorney general who speaks about a refusal to compromise. They share an enemy, though. They dislike social media’s effects on children’s mental health. Talarico, who did not respond to a request for comment, has endorsed a social media ban for kids under 16, while denouncing “predatory algorithms that divide us on an hourly, daily basis.” As a legislator, he co-authored a bill targeting explicit deepfakes — digital imitations of individuals that are often made or manipulated by artificial intelligence and used for harassment on social media. (Tahir, 10/13)