The US Lags Other Countries in Social Media Restrictions for Kids, but a Reform Push is Growing

Kristin Bride, right, mother of 16-year-old Carson Bride, who died by suicide after being cyber-bullied on an anonymous app on Snapchat, is joined by Amy Neville, left, mother of 14-year-old Alexander Neville, who died from fentanyl poisoning after being deceived by a drug dealer operating on Snapchat, during a Social Media Victims Remembrance Day memorial on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) By  KAITLYN HUAMANI and BARBARA ORTUTAY Amy Neville describes Kristin Bride as her “soulmate.” But the day that forged their bond — June 23, 2020 — was the worst of each of their lives. Both Bride and Neville lost their teen sons that day. Their kids lived a thousand miles apart and never met, but they both died from harms related to their social media use. When the two mothers met, early in their advocacy work to protect other kids, Bride said she had felt “totally alone.” But they have since seen the online child safety movement blossom, with scores of other parents who lost kids pursuing stronger social media safeguards and legislation to protect children online. With that momentum, advocates say the tide seems to be turning. A pair of landmark jury verdicts this year showed a
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