Eva Mendes is getting political on Mother’s Day 2026, urging parents to focus on protecting their kids from the reported dangers of social media use.
“Mothers are losing their children to social media harms, and instead of breaking, they’re turning their grief into action. For your kids and for mine,” Mendes, 52 wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 10, alongside a black and white photo of the actress wearing a “mother” tank.
“Out of the universal unconditional love a mother feels for her child-may we please stand in solidarity with them and sign their Mother’s Day card asking bipartisan lawmakers to [do] just that: Protect our children,” the caption continued. “Please pass comprehensive legislation this year that will protect them from online harms.”
Mendes was advocating for the passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bipartisan bill introduced by Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn that would mandate strict default privacy settings for all social media platforms in the hopes of mitigating bullying, online exploitation and access to harmful content.
Several studies have shown that prolonged social media usage leads to an increase in depression and anxiety. Those who oppose the bill argue that it will lead to increased civilian surveillance and censorship.
Those in favor of the bill are planning to hold a rally on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, May 12, to “implore” the U.S. senate to, “skip the flowers, skip the chocolates, and give bereaved Mother’s the gift of passing the Kids Online Safety Act (SOSA) this year,” per a Sunday press release.
Mendes shares two children — daughters Esmeralda and Amanda — with actor Ryan Gosling. The pair first met in 2011 on the set of their movie The Place Beyond the Pines, and after a decade secretly got married in 2022.
Known for her relatively private life after stepping out of the spotlight to raise her two children, Mendes is not particularly politically active. In January, the actress took to her Instagram Stories to shut down rumors that she had relocated to London, England, in the wake of President Donald Trump winning a second presidential term.
“Wrong again @dailymail,” she wrote at the time. “Although I love my time in London, I can’t wait to get back home and celebrate the @dodgers World Series championship! Go Dodgers!!!”
Of course, Mendes is not the first celebrity to throw the weight of their significant platform behind a worthwhile political cause. Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle have been consistent advocates for social media safety and increased guardrails.
“We are at a crossroads where the urgency to reassess and redefine our approach to protecting children has become increasingly evident,” the Duke of Sussex said while appearing virtually at the first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia in November 2024. “While the necessity has always been apparent, it is now time to translate that awareness into meaningful action. So, we thank you all for your attention to this critical issue.”
