FTC Mandated to Launch Nationwide Online Safety Campaign for Kids Under 17 Within Six Months

The Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act isn’t about new regulations on tech companies—at least not yet. Instead, this section of the bill focuses entirely on public awareness, tasking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with launching a major, nationwide education campaign to make the internet safer for kids. Specifically, the FTC must get this program rolling within 180 days of the bill becoming law.

The FTC’s New Homework: A 10-Year Public Safety Blitz

This bill replaces several older sections of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act with new requirements centered on education and outreach. The FTC is now required to partner with a huge range of groups—think schools, law enforcement, non-profits, and even medical professionals—to run a campaign focused on online safety for minors. For context, the bill defines a “minor” as anyone under the age of 17. The campaign’s goal is broad, covering everything from protecting kids from cybercrimes and adult content (narcotics, gambling, etc.) to preventing compulsive online behavior and promoting mental health.

For a parent, this means the government is trying to pool resources to create clearer, more consistent guidance on digital safety. If you’re an educator, it means the FTC will be working to identify and promote “best practices” for keeping students safe online. The idea is to make it easier for everyone—from the kids themselves to the people who care for them—to access and use safeguards like parental controls. Think of it as a federally coordinated effort to cut through the noise and deliver actionable safety tips.

Accountability and the Fine Print

To ensure this isn't just a one-off pamphlet drop, the bill includes a robust reporting requirement. Starting one year after enactment, the FTC must submit an annual report to Congress for ten straight years. This report has to detail exactly what the FTC did under the new public awareness campaign. This mechanism is key: it provides a decade-long window for Congress to check whether the FTC is actually making progress and spending taxpayer money effectively on this effort.

While this legislation is focused on awareness, the definitions section is worth noting. The bill defines “online safety” very broadly, including not just protection from crime but also preventing “compulsive online behavior and other negative impacts on minors’ physical and mental health.” Since the FTC is tasked with identifying and promoting best practices across this wide scope, the success of the campaign will depend heavily on how they define those practices. For now, this is a clear signal that the federal government is shifting resources toward educating the public about the real-world mental and physical health impacts of digital life, not just the criminal risks.