In the ongoing battle to protect kids from potential online dangers, a new bill drawing the attention of fan fiction writers has been proposed: KOSA, the Kids Online Safety Act. The bill was created to give parents and guardians the power to control what kinds of content their children can access online. While many parents support the bill, fan fiction writers have raised their voices in protest. They contend that the bill is an infringement on their right to free expression and will severely limit their ability to participate in their fan communities.
Fan fiction is a form of writing in which fans of movies, TV shows, books, and more create new stories based on existing characters and settings. It is a popular form of creative expression and a thriving community of writers. However, such fan content sometimes features objectionable content which, depending on the interpretation, could be deemed inappropriate for children.
Language in the proposed KOSA bill encourages media companies to “carefully consider the content” they are putting out, suggesting that they could be required to censor some fan fiction if it is deemed to be too risqué. It does not take into account the fact that most fan fiction writers are adults and that offensive material is often clearly labeled as such—something children could easily be taught to recognize and ignore.
For this reason, fan fiction writers have been urging fellow fans to join together to fight the KOSA bill, arguing that it is an unjust infringement of their right to free expression. Fans have been vocal in their opposition to the proposed legislation, writing letters to congress members, launching petitions to challenge it, and discussing the implications of the bill on social media platforms.
If passed, the KOSA bill could have serious implications for not only fan fiction writers but all those participating in fan-based communities. It could limit the amount of content being produced and could prevent vulnerable children from consuming positive fan essays, artwork, stories, and more. Despite the good intentions of the bill, fan fiction writers feel that KOSA is simply not the answer.
