“It’s almost like the genie’s out of the bottle with the internet,” Wells said on CNN. “There’s a helplessness around what is actually still possible, but if government shows leadership, there is a possibility for us to still make tangible differences to save kids online.”
How companies are responding
The affected platforms have largely criticized the legislation, although they said they will comply.
“We believe strongly in the open internet and the continued accessibility of quality knowledge, information, resources, and community building for everyone, including young people,” Reddit said in a post on its site on Monday. “This is why Reddit has always been, and continues to be, available for anyone to read even if they don’t have an account.
“By limiting account eligibility and putting identity tests on internet usage, this law undermines everyone’s right to both free expression and privacy, as well as account-specific protections,” the company continued.
