The debate over how to protect kids and teens online is occurring around the globe. Policymakers in the United States and beyond have proposed legislation that affects not only minors but also adults’ use of the internet, social media, and AI. Advocates for such policies focus on what they see as the pressing need to respond to concerns about youth mental health or other harms they tie to young people’s technology use. Opponents question the impact of such policies on the speech and privacy rights of both children and adults and how the policies may damage fundamental liberties.

Taking place during Free Speech Week, our second annual debate will feature two leading experts on the question at the center of much of this disagreement: Should adults sacrifice speech rights to protect children online?

Reception to follow.

• “A Constitutional Framework for Protecting Kids Online,” by Meg Leta Jones & Clare Morell
• “Sex & Tech,” by Elizabeth Nolan Brown