Austin News

U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz and Senator Brian Schatz have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting children from the harmful effects of social media. The bill, named The Kids Off Social Media Act, sets a minimum age of 13 for social media use and prevents social media companies from using addictive algorithms on users under 17.

Sen. Cruz emphasized the importance of the bill, stating, “Every parent with a young child or a teenager either worries about, or knows first-hand, the real harms and dangers of addictive and anxiety-inducing social media." He also highlighted the bill's inclusion of provisions to restrict teenagers' access to social media on school networks.

Senator Schatz echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the urgent need for action, "There is no good reason for a nine-year-old to be on Instagram or TikTok. There just isn’t. The growing evidence is clear: social media is making kids more depressed, more anxious, and more suicidal. This is an urgent health crisis, and Congress must act."

The bill has garnered support from a bipartisan group of senators, including Sens. Chris Murphy, Katie Britt, Peter Welch, Ted Budd, John Fetterman, Angus King, and Mark Warner. Senator Murphy expressed his support for the legislation, stating, "Social media companies know that they are hurting our children with their addictive products, yet they refuse to adequately protect our kids from harm because it would hurt the companies' profits."

The Kids Off Social Media Act aims to address the mental health crisis among youth in the United States, particularly among young girls. Studies have shown a strong link between social media use and poor mental health, prompting the U.S. Surgeon General to issue an advisory calling for new policies to regulate social media use.

The bill prohibits children under 13 from creating or maintaining social media accounts and prevents social media companies from using targeted content algorithms on users under 17. It also gives the FTC and state attorneys general the authority to enforce these provisions and mandates schools to block and filter social media on federally funded networks and devices.

Parents overwhelmingly support the bill, with over 90 percent of mothers agreeing that there should be a minimum age of 13 for social media. The legislation addresses growing concerns among parents about explicit content and excessive screen time on social media platforms.

The Kids Off Social Media Act represents a significant step towards protecting children from the negative impacts of social media and ensuring their safety, health, and well-being online.