The Youth Online Safety Initiative is a bipartisan, solutions-driven effort dedicated to safeguarding children and teens from the growing risks of exploitation, grooming, harassment, and exposure to harmful or manipulative content online. As digital platforms increasingly shape how young people connect, learn, and communicate, this initiative addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing families and communities today.
The Initiative unites attorneys general, law enforcement, technology companies, nonprofit organizations, educators, academics, and families in a shared mission: to create safer, more transparent, and more accountable digital environments for youth. By combining legal expertise, technological innovation, and public education, AGA helps prevent online harms and fosters productive partnerships between technology leaders and law enforcement agencies.
Action Through Collaboration and Expertise
The Youth Online Safety Initiative brings together a broad network of stakeholders to co-design effective practices, improve lawful information sharing, and align public and private efforts. This cross-sector collaboration ensures that policy development, technology advancement, and public education evolve together in step with real-world needs.
Participants include:
• Attorneys General offering bipartisan leadership and legal guidance;
• Industry leaders advancing safer design and platform accountability;
• Families and parents sharing practical insights into children’s digital experiences;
• Nonprofit organizations advocating for child protection and well-being;
• Academic experts contributing evidence-based research and policy analysis;
• Law enforcement agencies enhancing detection, prevention, and enforcement capacity;
• Advocacy groups ensuring that every effort remains centered on the safety and dignity of young people.
Goals and Focus Areas
The Youth Online Safety Initiative focuses on building measurable, lasting solutions that protect children while empowering families and communities. Its work centers on developing and promoting best practices to identify, prevent, and report online exploitation and abuse, ensuring that all partners have the tools and training needed to respond swiftly and effectively.
To strengthen coordination, the Initiative seeks to establish standardized frameworks for lawful, transparent, and rapid data sharing between technology companies and law enforcement agencies. This effort aims to improve investigative efficiency while upholding privacy and civil liberties.
Education is another cornerstone of the Initiative. AGA and its partners are committed to equipping parents, guardians, and educators with accessible resources and training that enhance digital literacy and provide guidance on how to keep children safe online. The Initiative also encourages innovation in youth-centered technology design, supporting the development of tools and platforms that prioritize safety, accountability, and age-appropriate experiences.
Equally important is the Initiative’s commitment to long-term collaboration. By fostering partnerships across sectors and emphasizing accountability, AGA works to ensure that progress in online safety is sustained, measurable, and responsive to evolving threats.
AGA’s Commitment
Through the Youth Online Safety Initiative, the Attorney General Alliance renews its commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and supporting families as they navigate the complexities of modern technology. By fostering collaboration, advancing education, and emphasizing tangible impact, AGA equips attorneys general and their partners to address emerging digital threats with clarity, compassion, and resolve.
This initiative reflects a shared conviction that protecting youth online is both a moral and civic responsibility. The AGA calls on government, industry, and communities alike to work together to build a digital world where every child can learn, grow, and connect safely.