Nearly a decade after the suicide of her son following episodes of cyberbullying, a San Antonio mother has built a national campaign to press lawmakers and technology companies to do more to protect children online. Her work has intensified as bipartisan federal legislation aimed at bolstering children's online safety advances in Congress.
From personal tragedy to national advocacy
Maurine Molak, a San Antonio resident, founded the David's Legacy Foundation after her son's death and now works with parents nationwide through Parents for Safe Online Spaces (ParentsSOS). She says the effort is focused on changing how online platforms are designed and regulated so that vulnerable young people face fewer risks.
"There is no doubt in anyone's mind that social media is a contributing factor to the mental health of our young people," Molak said. "And so, especially vulnerable children are impacted negatively by social media's design."
Molak and other advocates point to a range of online harms, from cyberbullying to features they describe as addictive that encourage prolonged, compulsive use. They argue that those design elements can amplify harm for children already at risk of mental-health crises.
Legislative momentum: what KOSA would do
The advocacy comes as the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) has moved forward in Washington. Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee unanimously advanced the bill, a milestone advocates say brings federal protections closer to reality.
Supporters say KOSA would force platform changes intended to reduce harms faced by minors. Elements described by proponents include:
- Default privacy protections for children's accounts.
- Parental tools to help guardians manage children's online experiences.
- Requirements for platforms to assess and address specific risks to minors, including design features tied to compulsive use.
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Default privacy settings | Limit exposure of minors to unknown users and sharing |
| Parental controls | Give guardians tools to manage access and time use |
| Platform risk mitigation | Require platforms to address specific harms to minors |
Debate over free speech and government authority
Despite the legislative progress, KOSA faces criticism from civil liberties groups and some technology advocates. Opponents warn the bill could raise First Amendment concerns or grant the government excessive power to define what content is harmful to children.
Molak acknowledges the debate but maintains the focus must remain on reducing the harms she and other parents have witnessed. She says her meetings with lawmakers and other families underscore widespread concern about the way platforms operate and their effects on youth.
Local implications
San Antonio parents and educators already contend with online harms in schools and homes. Local mental health professionals have cited social media as a factor in rising anxiety, depression and self-harm among young people, and advocates say federal action could change how platforms interact with minors nationwide — including in South Texas.
Through David's Legacy Foundation and ParentsSOS, Molak has joined other parents pressing for change. She contends the legislative effort is not about eliminating technology but about reshaping industry practices so children are safer online.
"If we can get to the core issues of that, those design features that are leading to compulsive use and our kids using them to the extreme, then that's what Congress needs to do," she said.
The future of KOSA will be determined in further congressional debate, where lawmakers must weigh competing priorities: protecting children, safeguarding free expression, and defining the proper role of federal authority in regulating online platforms. For families in San Antonio, the result could affect how young people experience social media and other online services in daily life.
