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U.S. Senators Katie Britt, R-Ala., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., have introduced the Kids Off Social Media Act, a bipartisan bill designed to address the negative impact of social media on children and teenagers. The legislation proposes a minimum age of 13 for social media accounts and aims to restrict algorithmically targeted content for users under 17, a move that advocates believe will mitigate harm and improve youth mental health outcomes.
“There’s no doubt our country is in the throes of a mental health crisis, and the rise of social media usage among children and teenagers is inextricably tied to this issue,” said Senator Britt. “As a mom, this is something my own kids and their friends have to contend with every day. And as a Senator, I know our nation has to contend with it to safeguard the next generation. Putting in place commonsense guardrails that protect our kids from the dangers of social media is critical for their future and America’s future.”
Senator Schatz emphasized the urgency of action, stating, “There is no good reason for a nine-year-old to be on Instagram or Snapchat. The growing evidence is clear: social media is making kids more depressed, more anxious, and more suicidal. Yet tech companies refuse to do anything about it because it would hurt their bottom line. This is an urgent health crisis, and Congress must act with the boldness and urgency it demands.”
Highlighting the broader societal implications, Senator Cruz remarked, “Every parent I know is concerned about the online threats to kids—from predators to videos promoting self-harm, risky behavior, or low self-esteem. Many families have suffered due to Big Tech’s failure to take responsibility for its products. The Kids Off Social Media Act addresses these issues by supporting families in crisis and empowering teachers to better manage their classrooms.”
Senator Murphy shared his firsthand perspective as a parent, explaining, “Everyone knows how harmful social media can be to kids. As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how these platforms use intentionally addictive algorithms to spoon-feed young people horrifying content glorifying everything from suicide to eating disorders. Yet these companies have proven they will choose profits over the well-being of our kids unless we force them to do otherwise.”
The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Peter Welch, D-Vt., Ted Budd, R-N.C., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Angus King, I-Maine, Mark Warner, D-Va., and John Curtis, R-Utah. It proposes several key measures, including:
- Banning the use of algorithmically targeted content for users under 17.
- Granting enforcement authority to the FTC and state attorneys general.
- Requiring schools to limit social media use on federally funded networks, following an updated CIPA framework.
The legislation comes amid growing evidence of social media’s harmful effects on youth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 57 percent of high school girls and 29 percent of boys reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless in 2021. Additionally, nearly one-third of high school girls considered suicide that year. Studies have also highlighted a correlation between increased screen time and poor mental health.
Public sentiment appears to align with the bill’s objectives. A survey by Count on Mothers found that over 90 percent of mothers support setting a minimum age of 13 for social media, and 87 percent oppose the use of personalized algorithms targeting children. Similarly, Pew Research found that more than 70 percent of parents are concerned about their teens being exposed to explicit content or spending excessive time on social media.
The Kids Off Social Media Act has received widespread support from organizations such as the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, National Association of School Nurses, Parents Television and Media Council, and the Tyler Clementi Foundation. Advocates argue that the bill is an essential step toward holding social media companies accountable and protecting the mental health of the nation’s youth.
For more details, the full text of the bill is available here.
