Proposal for Big Tech levy to fund children’s public internet
New analysis suggests a levy on major technology companies could finance a safer, non-commercial online ecosystem for young users, bypassing invasive age verification mandates.
An article published by The Verge on 14 July 2026 proposes the creation of a “children’s public internet” funded by a levy on major technology companies. The proposal argues that current regulatory approaches, such as age verification mandates and social media bans, are ineffective and invasive. Instead, the author suggests using tax revenue to grant funds to non-profit, non-commercial online services designed specifically for minors. The initiative aims to remove profit motives from children's digital experiences, offering a safer alternative to commercial platforms like Instagram and TikTok, while potentially encouraging broader competition in the tech sector.
The article references the US House of Representatives passing the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act at the end of June 2026. A Pew Research Center survey cited in the article found that over half of US respondents favoured a ban on social media for anyone under 16. The article mentions Australia implemented a blanket ban on teen social media use last year (2025), with one study suggesting over 80 percent of kids maintain access. The article cites Eric Goldman, an internet law expert, who authored a 2025 academic paper outlining problems with existing child safety proposals. The article references Ben Tarnoff’s book Internet for the People and his concept of "digital sewer socialism". The article notes the US government helped create the internet and argues for government involvement in repairing it.
The internet is increasingly viewed as detrimental to children, with concerns regarding addiction, self-esteem, and exposure to predators. Several countries have introduced stringent age verification requirements or outright bans for minors. The "kids.us" internet top-level domain was an early, largely unsuccessful attempt to create a dedicated space for children online. Alternative spaces for minors, such as 4chan and sketchy Telegram groups, are noted as existing but potentially harmful due to lack of moderation and age-gating. The article references the 20th-century push for children's public television as a tangible analogy for the proposed public internet. The article mentions the Archive of Our Own as an example of a nonprofit fiction platform that bans commercial activity by users.
The US House of Representatives passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act in late June 2026, reflecting a broader legislative trend towards restrictive measures. A Pew Research Center survey indicated that more than half of US respondents supported a social media ban for individuals under 16. Meanwhile, Australia’s 2025 blanket ban on teen social media use has seen limited success, with research suggesting over 80 percent of children still maintain access to these platforms.
Internet law expert Eric Goldman, who published a 2025 academic paper detailing the flaws in current child safety proposals, highlights the limitations of punitive regulation. The article draws on Ben Tarnoff’s concept of "digital sewer socialism" from his book Internet for the People, advocating for a public lane in the information superhighway. This approach mirrors the 20th-century expansion of children’s public television, aiming to fund services that operate without profit motives.
The proposal suggests that a Big Tech tax could finance non-profit online services for minors, removing the commercial incentives that critics argue drive harmful design features. Unlike age-gating systems, which are often circumvented and raise privacy concerns, this model would expand the digital ecosystem with safer alternatives. The article notes that while some children may still prefer commercial platforms, a public option could offer a distinct, ad-free environment.
The article references the Archive of Our Own as a precedent for non-profit platforms that prohibit commercial activity by users. It also points to the historical failure of the kids.us top-level domain as a lesson that a dedicated web address is insufficient without substantive infrastructure. The US government’s role in the internet’s creation is cited as justification for its responsibility in repairing the digital space, potentially through open-source software and municipal-style broadband models.
