President Trump: If you unban TikTok, issue an Executive Order to tell Big Tech to follow KOSA

The current U.S. ban on TikTok has left me deeply vexed. While the national security issues surrounding the platform cannot be ignored, the broader implications of silencing more than 170 million voices in a nation that values First Amendment freedoms are troubling. Protecting our constitutional rights while addressing legitimate threats requires more than reactionary measures—it demands thoughtful leadership and balanced solutions.

At SAVE - Suicide Awareness Voices of Education , we have been in the fight to pass the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) for over a year. Long before we joined the cause, hundreds of organizations and countless parents were working trelessly against the powerful money and influence of Big Tech to protect young people from the harms caused by their products. Together, we’ve pushed for accountability and advocated for safeguards that prioritize the safety of youth online.

However, we do not embrace the notion that disconnecting the most connected generation in history is the solution. Social media platforms are here to stay, and the idea of stifling the rights of Americans to protect them from social media harms is both shortsighted and counterproductive. Instead of banning platforms outright, we must demand changes that make these platforms safer while preserving the freedoms we hold dear.

President Trump has stated he will allow TikTok to bypass the legally imposed ban that shuttered its operations in the past 24 hours in the United States to create another approach to addressing national security concerns while not disrupting the lives of 170 million Americans.

As he does so, he should also issue an Executive Order, alongside whatever mechanism is used to lift TikTok’s legally imposed ban, to call on Big Tech to follow the legal requirements outlined in the Kids Online Safey Act (KOSA.)? In doing so, the President can send a clear and critical message to policymakers and Big Tech alike:

“I support free speech. But I also support protecting the lives and safety of young people. Implement the measures outlined in KOSA now. And Congress, pass this legislation.”

“The truth is, KOSA passed the U.S. Senate 91-3 and enjoyed significant bipartisan support in the House. It should have passed, but it didn’t. My Executive Order will make it clear that protecting kids and protecting the First Amendment are not mutually exclusive—they can both be true. And under this Administration, they will be.”

The TikTok ban, much like the proposed social media restrictions in Australia for youth, highlights a troubling trend: policy decisions that make for good politics in the moment but fail as long-term solutions. Bans like these do little to address the root causes of harm and risk setting dangerous precedents for restricting free speech.

This isn’t just about TikTok. It’s about addressing systemic issues in the digital landscape. We must hold platforms accountable for the harms they cause without undermining the constitutional freedoms we value. It’s time to prioritize the safety and well-being of all Americans while ensuring that free speech and security coexist in the digital age.

Today, social media is an integral part of life for over 5 billion people worldwide. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, Discord, and WhatsApp dominate global communication, connection, and commerce. The sheer scope of their reach underscores the need for balanced and effective policies to address both their benefits and the harms they may cause.

President Trump wants to disrupt things in Washington, D.C., and across the country. Disruption, when done thoughtfully, can be a catalyst for progress. It can force change that otherwise has stalled or been suppressed by those who benefit from the status quo or whose influence stands in the way of innovation. My hope is that the President’s disruption leads to positive policies and opportunities for all Americans.

That being said, we don’t need more disruption to create conflict. Our nation has seen enough of that. All of us, in our own ways, have contributed to the divisiveness that characterizes much of our current discourse. Now is the time to find a better way forward—for everyone.

The President has made it clear he will shake up the status quo. It’s time to disrupt the status quo that has allowed Big Tech to create harmful social media products that hurt young people without fear of repercussions, operating as though they are free from any obligation to prioritize the life and safety of young people over profits.

An Executive Order from President Trump, calling on Big Tech to adopt the protections outlined in KOSA while simultaneously allowing TikTok to resume business, would send a powerful and unifying message: Congress must pass KOSA. Big Tech must protect young people. And America will preserve free speech.

That’s called winning!