Letter: Proposals could make it harder to innovate

If you're a parent in the Chicago area, chances are you've put considerable effort into finding safe, engaging and affordable summer activities for your kids. And with good reason. The summer months can be among the most challenging for families balancing work and summer break. But thanks to the proliferation of online support groups, today's families have greater access to resources that help keep kids safe, engaged and happy all summer long.

As parents, it's our job to protect this access so it remains accessible to families of all circumstances. After all, that's what a free and open internet affords.

During the pandemic, I founded an online group to help parents combat isolation and entertain their kids while stuck at home. Make it Fun. Family Adventures started as a small group in my Bartlett community but has since grown to more than 60,000 members across Illinois. Our online community not only helped parents navigate the pandemic by sharing fun staycation concepts and at-home entertainment ideas, but we're a source of consistent support for our community. In fact, our group has launched successful Go Fund Me campaigns for local causes and helped keep small, locally owned restaurants from going under.

This year, it's likely that policymakers in Congress, including members of our Illinois delegation, will advance policies that make it harder for American technology companies to innovate. These are the very companies whose platforms provide the foundation for groups like mine that exist to help families and strengthen communities. And when tech stops innovating, individuals and communities like ours pay the price.

As Congress considers technology industry regulation, I hope they make certain it doesn't come at the expense of those of us who rely on technology services to foster and grow our communities.

Lindsay Noelle

Bartlett