LaQuanta Hernandez Advocates for Stronger Online Safety Laws
LaQuanta Hernandez is on a mission to protect children from the pain her daughter, Jazmine, endured. Hernandez is lobbying for the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) after Jazmine, then 13, faced severe cyberbullying. Despite having safeguards, such as limiting social media use, Jazmine was targeted by racist posts on Instagram and TikTok.
Hernandez’s fight for safer online spaces for kids comes from a deeply personal place. Her daughter had to go through therapy following the harassment. Jazmine was subjected to disturbing images and captions, including her face superimposed on a burning cross, with captions like “filthy monkey burning.”
Cyberbullying: A Real and Immediate Threat
The ordeal began when classmates circulated a photo of Jazmine with a derogatory caption, “The only Black b***h in school.” Though her parents reported the incident, similar posts reappeared on different platforms. This led to ongoing trauma for Jazmine, despite efforts to remove the offensive content.
Hernandez, who works in school district administration, and her husband, a law enforcement officer, had taken all possible precautions. Yet, the impact of the online abuse was severe. Jazmine’s experience highlights the urgent need for better online safety measures.
Push for KOSA: A Step Toward Protection
Hernandez has taken her advocacy to Washington, D.C., with the group Parents Together. She is pushing for KOSA, a bill that would impose stricter regulations on social media platforms to protect minors. The bill, which received bipartisan support and passed the Senate in July, is now under consideration in the House.
President Joe Biden has expressed his support for KOSA, promising to sign it into law if it passes. The bill aims to ensure that online platforms take reasonable steps to safeguard children and provide tools for parents to monitor their children’s online activities.
Hope for Change: The Future of Online Safety
Hernandez remains hopeful about the bill’s impact. “If you can imagine a 13-year-old girl having to go through that, it was traumatic,” she says. Her advocacy highlights the need for systemic changes to prevent such incidents and ensure the safety of children online.
As Jazmine continues to recover, Hernandez’s efforts aim to create a safer digital environment for all children, ensuring that no other child has to endure similar pain.
