WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — The Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation Tuesday that is intended to protect minors from harmful content online.

The Kids Online Safety Act is the first major effort in decades by Congress to hold tech companies more accountable for what happens online. The supporters included parents of children who died by suicide after online bullying or who were otherwise harmed by online content.

The legislation is about allowing children, teens and parents “to take back control of their lives online,” said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who wrote the bill with Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

It would force companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm on online platforms frequently used by minors, requiring them to exercise “duty of care” and ensure that they generally default to the safest settings possible.

“The message we are sending to big tech is that kids are not your product,” Blackburn said at a news conference as the Senate passed the bill. “Kids are not your profit source. And we are going to protect them in the virtual space.”

The House has not yet acted on the bill, but Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he is “committed to working to find consensus.”

Supporters are hoping the House will act before the end of the congressional session in January.

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