Protecting Kids Online
@protectingkids.bsky.social
A coalition of parents and citizens protecting kids from surveillance policies disguised as child safety.
Ben Gillenwater spent 30 years securing systems. Then he tried to secure his own kid’s iPad.
That’s how the Family IT Guy started.
Next Tuesday he walks through what parents can set up now before anyone in D.C. “fixes” it for you.
LIVE Sept 22 • 7PM ET
Register: https://streamyard.com/watch/Pappr
That’s how the Family IT Guy started.
Next Tuesday he walks through what parents can set up now before anyone in D.C. “fixes” it for you.
LIVE Sept 22 • 7PM ET
Register: https://streamyard.com/watch/Pappr
September 16, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Ben Gillenwater spent 30 years securing systems. Then he tried to secure his own kid’s iPad.
That’s how the Family IT Guy started.
Next Tuesday he walks through what parents can set up now before anyone in D.C. “fixes” it for you.
LIVE Sept 22 • 7PM ET
Register: https://streamyard.com/watch/Pappr
That’s how the Family IT Guy started.
Next Tuesday he walks through what parents can set up now before anyone in D.C. “fixes” it for you.
LIVE Sept 22 • 7PM ET
Register: https://streamyard.com/watch/Pappr
☝️ One week out.
Tuesday, Sept 22 • 7PM ET — we go live with the Protecting Kids Online launch.
✅ Subscribe to the YouTube channel now so you get the reminder when we start
https://www.youtube.com/@protectingkidsonline
Tuesday, Sept 22 • 7PM ET — we go live with the Protecting Kids Online launch.
✅ Subscribe to the YouTube channel now so you get the reminder when we start
https://www.youtube.com/@protectingkidsonline
September 15, 2026 at 3:30 PM
☝️ One week out.
Tuesday, Sept 22 • 7PM ET — we go live with the Protecting Kids Online launch.
✅ Subscribe to the YouTube channel now so you get the reminder when we start
https://www.youtube.com/@protectingkidsonline
Tuesday, Sept 22 • 7PM ET — we go live with the Protecting Kids Online launch.
✅ Subscribe to the YouTube channel now so you get the reminder when we start
https://www.youtube.com/@protectingkidsonline
The 16 & Up Act is out.
Press release: bright line at 16, kids get their childhoods back.
The statute: platforms may not keep an account if they know, or should have known, the user is under 16. 🧵
Press release: bright line at 16, kids get their childhoods back.
The statute: platforms may not keep an account if they know, or should have known, the user is under 16. 🧵
September 14, 2026 at 6:18 PM
The 16 & Up Act is out.
Press release: bright line at 16, kids get their childhoods back.
The statute: platforms may not keep an account if they know, or should have known, the user is under 16. 🧵
Press release: bright line at 16, kids get their childhoods back.
The statute: platforms may not keep an account if they know, or should have known, the user is under 16. 🧵
🚨California’s new "child safety" laws build the foundation for identity verification, AI monitoring, and expanded digital control...for kids and adults.
Full breakdown in our latest Substack: https://protectingkidsonline.substack.com/p/behind-newsoms-child-safety-laws
Full breakdown in our latest Substack: https://protectingkidsonline.substack.com/p/behind-newsoms-child-safety-laws
September 11, 2026 at 9:18 PM
🚨California’s new "child safety" laws build the foundation for identity verification, AI monitoring, and expanded digital control...for kids and adults.
Full breakdown in our latest Substack: https://protectingkidsonline.substack.com/p/behind-newsoms-child-safety-laws
Full breakdown in our latest Substack: https://protectingkidsonline.substack.com/p/behind-newsoms-child-safety-laws
Reposted by Protecting Kids Online
Meta’s AI agent Muse is now the No. 2 app in the US
Meta’s AI agent Muse is now the No. 2 app in the US
Meta's newest app Muse is off to a slower start than the company's other apps, like Meta AI or Threads.
techcrunch.com
September 10, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Meta’s AI agent Muse is now the No. 2 app in the US
A massive breach at an identity‑verification vendor leaked 153M+ driver’s licenses, proving what many have been warning: age‑verification laws don’t protect kids. They expose their identities to permanent risk.
Details: https://vrl.link/ah
Details: https://vrl.link/ah
September 3, 2026 at 12:26 PM
A massive breach at an identity‑verification vendor leaked 153M+ driver’s licenses, proving what many have been warning: age‑verification laws don’t protect kids. They expose their identities to permanent risk.
Details: https://vrl.link/ah
Details: https://vrl.link/ah
Jury selection had started.
Trial was underway.
And then...settlement.
Zuckerberg has never been a good witness in front of Congress. This settlement was damage control before discovery could expose more.
Trial was underway.
And then...settlement.
Zuckerberg has never been a good witness in front of Congress. This settlement was damage control before discovery could expose more.
September 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Jury selection had started.
Trial was underway.
And then...settlement.
Zuckerberg has never been a good witness in front of Congress. This settlement was damage control before discovery could expose more.
Trial was underway.
And then...settlement.
Zuckerberg has never been a good witness in front of Congress. This settlement was damage control before discovery could expose more.
The Surgeon General’s September 1 “Live Real Life” symposium isn’t just another event — it’s the moment the federal narrative on kids and screens goes public. PKO breaks down what to watch and why it matters. Read the full post on Substack: https://vrl.link/9r
August 31, 2026 at 4:00 PM
The Surgeon General’s September 1 “Live Real Life” symposium isn’t just another event — it’s the moment the federal narrative on kids and screens goes public. PKO breaks down what to watch and why it matters. Read the full post on Substack: https://vrl.link/9r
🚨 LIVE TONIGHT!!
Join us at 7PM to discuss the Meta settlement - digital ID or child safety? - with Ben Gillenwater, the Family IT Guy
Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/live/rzqNBVqJPv4?si=WnfitTe-2npUHzkP
Join us at 7PM to discuss the Meta settlement - digital ID or child safety? - with Ben Gillenwater, the Family IT Guy
Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/live/rzqNBVqJPv4?si=WnfitTe-2npUHzkP
August 28, 2026 at 8:19 PM
🚨 LIVE TONIGHT!!
Join us at 7PM to discuss the Meta settlement - digital ID or child safety? - with Ben Gillenwater, the Family IT Guy
Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/live/rzqNBVqJPv4?si=WnfitTe-2npUHzkP
Join us at 7PM to discuss the Meta settlement - digital ID or child safety? - with Ben Gillenwater, the Family IT Guy
Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/live/rzqNBVqJPv4?si=WnfitTe-2npUHzkP
Meta trial remedies include multi-layered age verification, underage-user classifiers, and mandatory parent account linking for under-18s.
These “fixes” build more identity systems and data collection.
Parents are the firewall.
https://vrl.link/9h
These “fixes” build more identity systems and data collection.
Parents are the firewall.
https://vrl.link/9h
August 24, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Meta trial remedies include multi-layered age verification, underage-user classifiers, and mandatory parent account linking for under-18s.
These “fixes” build more identity systems and data collection.
Parents are the firewall.
https://vrl.link/9h
These “fixes” build more identity systems and data collection.
Parents are the firewall.
https://vrl.link/9h
As the Meta trial moves forward, states are pushing for age checks, parental verification, and identity‑tracking systems that would apply to millions of users.
Parents deserve to understand what’s actually being asked for and what it means for digital life.
Parents deserve to understand what’s actually being asked for and what it means for digital life.
August 18, 2026 at 12:19 PM
As the Meta trial moves forward, states are pushing for age checks, parental verification, and identity‑tracking systems that would apply to millions of users.
Parents deserve to understand what’s actually being asked for and what it means for digital life.
Parents deserve to understand what’s actually being asked for and what it means for digital life.
🏫School is back in full swing.
Before the data footprint grows any larger:
☑️Request the full list of required apps + their privacy policies.
☑️Ask whether monitoring runs off-campus.
☑️Note retention periods for behavioral or activity data.
✅You are the firewall.
🚫Not another student database
Before the data footprint grows any larger:
☑️Request the full list of required apps + their privacy policies.
☑️Ask whether monitoring runs off-campus.
☑️Note retention periods for behavioral or activity data.
✅You are the firewall.
🚫Not another student database
August 17, 2026 at 8:46 PM
🏫School is back in full swing.
Before the data footprint grows any larger:
☑️Request the full list of required apps + their privacy policies.
☑️Ask whether monitoring runs off-campus.
☑️Note retention periods for behavioral or activity data.
✅You are the firewall.
🚫Not another student database
Before the data footprint grows any larger:
☑️Request the full list of required apps + their privacy policies.
☑️Ask whether monitoring runs off-campus.
☑️Note retention periods for behavioral or activity data.
✅You are the firewall.
🚫Not another student database
States aren’t backing away from age‑verification laws, they’re quietly rewriting them to survive court challenges.
Virginia’s App Store Accountability Act study shows the new model: identity checks, mandatory parental controls, & platform‑level surveillance built to look “legally safer.” 1/2
Virginia’s App Store Accountability Act study shows the new model: identity checks, mandatory parental controls, & platform‑level surveillance built to look “legally safer.” 1/2
August 11, 2026 at 4:15 PM
States aren’t backing away from age‑verification laws, they’re quietly rewriting them to survive court challenges.
Virginia’s App Store Accountability Act study shows the new model: identity checks, mandatory parental controls, & platform‑level surveillance built to look “legally safer.” 1/2
Virginia’s App Store Accountability Act study shows the new model: identity checks, mandatory parental controls, & platform‑level surveillance built to look “legally safer.” 1/2
New Reuters polling shows Americans want social media reform, but the “solutions” being pushed require identity binding, biometrics, and surveillance systems for kids.
People aren’t asking for that. They’re asking for help.
1/2
People aren’t asking for that. They’re asking for help.
1/2
August 9, 2026 at 4:48 PM
New Reuters polling shows Americans want social media reform, but the “solutions” being pushed require identity binding, biometrics, and surveillance systems for kids.
People aren’t asking for that. They’re asking for help.
1/2
People aren’t asking for that. They’re asking for help.
1/2
Headlines: “Massive win for kids vs Meta.”
$567M abatement fund + $375M penalties + sweeping changes to FB/IG.
Reality:
More surveillance.
More data collection on kids.
More algorithmic control.
More reports to government.
Parents? Nowhere in this picture.
🧵
$567M abatement fund + $375M penalties + sweeping changes to FB/IG.
Reality:
More surveillance.
More data collection on kids.
More algorithmic control.
More reports to government.
Parents? Nowhere in this picture.
🧵
August 8, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Headlines: “Massive win for kids vs Meta.”
$567M abatement fund + $375M penalties + sweeping changes to FB/IG.
Reality:
More surveillance.
More data collection on kids.
More algorithmic control.
More reports to government.
Parents? Nowhere in this picture.
🧵
$567M abatement fund + $375M penalties + sweeping changes to FB/IG.
Reality:
More surveillance.
More data collection on kids.
More algorithmic control.
More reports to government.
Parents? Nowhere in this picture.
🧵
Age verification is, by definition, fundamentally censorship.
KOSA, App Store Accountability Act, and other "child protection" tech policies create a government censorship system.
✅Parents are the firewall
🚫Not the state
🚫Not Big Tech
#ProtectingKidsOnline #AgeVerification #Privacy #FreeSpeech
KOSA, App Store Accountability Act, and other "child protection" tech policies create a government censorship system.
✅Parents are the firewall
🚫Not the state
🚫Not Big Tech
#ProtectingKidsOnline #AgeVerification #Privacy #FreeSpeech
August 6, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Age verification is, by definition, fundamentally censorship.
KOSA, App Store Accountability Act, and other "child protection" tech policies create a government censorship system.
✅Parents are the firewall
🚫Not the state
🚫Not Big Tech
#ProtectingKidsOnline #AgeVerification #Privacy #FreeSpeech
KOSA, App Store Accountability Act, and other "child protection" tech policies create a government censorship system.
✅Parents are the firewall
🚫Not the state
🚫Not Big Tech
#ProtectingKidsOnline #AgeVerification #Privacy #FreeSpeech
Today the Senate Commerce Committee advanced KOSA and three other bills from the "Surveillance Slate".
We continue to oppose this legislation.
These measures expand data collection, create new compliance burdens, and push age-verification infrastructure under the banner of child safety.
We continue to oppose this legislation.
These measures expand data collection, create new compliance burdens, and push age-verification infrastructure under the banner of child safety.
August 5, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Today the Senate Commerce Committee advanced KOSA and three other bills from the "Surveillance Slate".
We continue to oppose this legislation.
These measures expand data collection, create new compliance burdens, and push age-verification infrastructure under the banner of child safety.
We continue to oppose this legislation.
These measures expand data collection, create new compliance burdens, and push age-verification infrastructure under the banner of child safety.
KOSA sounds like it protects kids.
But the actual bill text delivers paperwork protections for platforms, mandates new data collection on minors, and builds surveillance infrastructure and calls it child safety.
Parents should stay in control.
Not government mandates.
You are the firewall.
But the actual bill text delivers paperwork protections for platforms, mandates new data collection on minors, and builds surveillance infrastructure and calls it child safety.
Parents should stay in control.
Not government mandates.
You are the firewall.
August 5, 2026 at 11:12 AM
KOSA sounds like it protects kids.
But the actual bill text delivers paperwork protections for platforms, mandates new data collection on minors, and builds surveillance infrastructure and calls it child safety.
Parents should stay in control.
Not government mandates.
You are the firewall.
But the actual bill text delivers paperwork protections for platforms, mandates new data collection on minors, and builds surveillance infrastructure and calls it child safety.
Parents should stay in control.
Not government mandates.
You are the firewall.
🚨 Today the Senate Commerce Committee is marking up KOSA and the rest of the “Surveillance Slate.”
This is NOT a final vote. KOSA will not become law today. But these bills expand age verification, data collection, and control, while failing to actually protect kids.
1/2
This is NOT a final vote. KOSA will not become law today. But these bills expand age verification, data collection, and control, while failing to actually protect kids.
1/2
August 5, 2026 at 11:11 AM
🚨 Today the Senate Commerce Committee is marking up KOSA and the rest of the “Surveillance Slate.”
This is NOT a final vote. KOSA will not become law today. But these bills expand age verification, data collection, and control, while failing to actually protect kids.
1/2
This is NOT a final vote. KOSA will not become law today. But these bills expand age verification, data collection, and control, while failing to actually protect kids.
1/2
Reposted by Protecting Kids Online
Great point.
And if you've got Republican Senators, remind them that Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Conservative Ladies of America all oppose these bills. @protectingkids.bsky.social has some good talking points at www.protectingkids.online/kidsonlinesa...
And if you've got Republican Senators, remind them that Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Conservative Ladies of America all oppose these bills. @protectingkids.bsky.social has some good talking points at www.protectingkids.online/kidsonlinesa...
August 4, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Great point.
And if you've got Republican Senators, remind them that Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Conservative Ladies of America all oppose these bills. @protectingkids.bsky.social has some good talking points at www.protectingkids.online/kidsonlinesa...
And if you've got Republican Senators, remind them that Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Conservative Ladies of America all oppose these bills. @protectingkids.bsky.social has some good talking points at www.protectingkids.online/kidsonlinesa...
Reposted by Protecting Kids Online
CALL YOUR CONGRESS PERSON NOW!!!!!! Tell them:
— NO to KOSA
— NO to Section 230 reform
— NO to the SCREEN Act
— NO to the App Store Accountability Act
—NO age verification laws
—NO to digital ID systems
— NO to KOSA
— NO to Section 230 reform
— NO to the SCREEN Act
— NO to the App Store Accountability Act
—NO age verification laws
—NO to digital ID systems
February 24, 2026 at 10:09 PM
CALL YOUR CONGRESS PERSON NOW!!!!!! Tell them:
— NO to KOSA
— NO to Section 230 reform
— NO to the SCREEN Act
— NO to the App Store Accountability Act
—NO age verification laws
—NO to digital ID systems
— NO to KOSA
— NO to Section 230 reform
— NO to the SCREEN Act
— NO to the App Store Accountability Act
—NO age verification laws
—NO to digital ID systems
🚨Senate Commerce marks up KOSA, the SCREEN Act, and other “kids safety” bills this Wednesday at 10 AM ET.
⚠️These bills are sold as child protection.
⚠️Most create new data-collection points and shift power away from parents.
1/2
⚠️These bills are sold as child protection.
⚠️Most create new data-collection points and shift power away from parents.
1/2
August 3, 2026 at 5:47 PM
🚨Senate Commerce marks up KOSA, the SCREEN Act, and other “kids safety” bills this Wednesday at 10 AM ET.
⚠️These bills are sold as child protection.
⚠️Most create new data-collection points and shift power away from parents.
1/2
⚠️These bills are sold as child protection.
⚠️Most create new data-collection points and shift power away from parents.
1/2
Child safety bills that require age verification for every American aren’t protecting kids.
They’re building the infrastructure for Digital ID and calling it safety.
➡️You are the firewall.
🚫Not the state.
🚫Not Big Tech.
Join the parent voice → protectingkids.online
They’re building the infrastructure for Digital ID and calling it safety.
➡️You are the firewall.
🚫Not the state.
🚫Not Big Tech.
Join the parent voice → protectingkids.online
July 29, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Child safety bills that require age verification for every American aren’t protecting kids.
They’re building the infrastructure for Digital ID and calling it safety.
➡️You are the firewall.
🚫Not the state.
🚫Not Big Tech.
Join the parent voice → protectingkids.online
They’re building the infrastructure for Digital ID and calling it safety.
➡️You are the firewall.
🚫Not the state.
🚫Not Big Tech.
Join the parent voice → protectingkids.online
You already have the tools to protect your kids online.
You don’t need age-verification mandates or government databases.
☑️Time limits.
☑️App restrictions.
☑️Content filters.
☑️Purchase approvals.
These already exist...parents just need to use them.
You are the firewall.
You don’t need age-verification mandates or government databases.
☑️Time limits.
☑️App restrictions.
☑️Content filters.
☑️Purchase approvals.
These already exist...parents just need to use them.
You are the firewall.
July 28, 2026 at 8:40 PM
You already have the tools to protect your kids online.
You don’t need age-verification mandates or government databases.
☑️Time limits.
☑️App restrictions.
☑️Content filters.
☑️Purchase approvals.
These already exist...parents just need to use them.
You are the firewall.
You don’t need age-verification mandates or government databases.
☑️Time limits.
☑️App restrictions.
☑️Content filters.
☑️Purchase approvals.
These already exist...parents just need to use them.
You are the firewall.
The most powerful protection a child has is an engaged parent.
Technology changes. Platforms change. Childhood changes.
But a parent’s presence, guidance, and involvement remain a child’s strongest foundation.
Technology changes. Platforms change. Childhood changes.
But a parent’s presence, guidance, and involvement remain a child’s strongest foundation.
July 27, 2026 at 12:01 PM
The most powerful protection a child has is an engaged parent.
Technology changes. Platforms change. Childhood changes.
But a parent’s presence, guidance, and involvement remain a child’s strongest foundation.
Technology changes. Platforms change. Childhood changes.
But a parent’s presence, guidance, and involvement remain a child’s strongest foundation.