A California mother, Kristin Bride, is calling for greater accountability from Big Tech after her 16-year-old son, Carson, tragically died by suicide in 2020 due to severe cyberbullying. Speaking at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol, Bride and advocates for anti-sexual exploitation joined bipartisan lawmakers to press for reform of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This statute, they argue, has become a loophole that allows tech companies to evade responsibility for harmful content distributed on their platforms.
Bride recounted the heart-wrenching experience of losing her son, explaining that Carson was targeted by bullies on YOLO, an anonymous messaging app integrated into Snapchat. Despite YOLO’s claim of monitoring and banning cyberbullies, Bride noted, “The last search on Carson’s phone before he ended his life was for hacks to find out who was doing this to him.” She expressed her ongoing struggle for justice, stating that legal counsel indicated Section 230 gave social media companies immunity from lawsuits, complicating her fight in federal court.
During the event, lawmakers and speakers, including Senator Dick Durbin and actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, echoed Bride’s sentiments, underscoring the need for significant reforms to Section 230. Dani Pinter, Chief Legal Officer of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), articulated concerns that the initial purpose of Section 230—to protect children—has been undermined. Pinter asserted that it now acts as a “shield from accountability,” allowing tech companies to prioritize profit over the safety of their users.
Pinter described the current tech landscape as one where vulnerable populations, particularly children, are treated as collateral damage in a profit-driven environment. She emphasized the perils posed by the expansive interpretation of Section 230, which has permitted platforms to escape liability, even in cases involving the distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The NCOSE has included Section 230 in its 2025 Dirty Dozen List, showcasing numerous survivors who encountered severe injustices due to the protections afforded to these platforms. Bride and other advocates believe it is crucial to reform these laws, especially as technology advances.
In a step towards this, Senators Durbin and Lindsey Graham previously introduced the Sunset To Reform Section 230 Act, seeking to repeal Section 230’s immunity after a two-year period, allowing individuals the ability to pursue legal action against platforms that have harmed them.
Amidst this advocacy, there is an enduring hope that meaningful reforms can be established, ensuring that technology companies are held accountable and that tragedies like Bride’s can be prevented in the future. The movement represents a growing recognition of the urgent need for legislative action to protect families and individuals from the potential harms of unregulated digital spaces.