Kids Off Social Media Act

Key Points

• Children under 13 would be completely banned from having accounts on social media platforms. If a company learns a user is under 13, they must shut down that account and delete all personal data collected from the child, though the child gets 90 days to request a copy of their data first.
• Teens aged 13 to 16 would still be allowed on social media, but companies could not use personalized recommendation algorithms to suggest content to them based on their personal data. Teens could still see posts in chronological order and search for content on their own.
• Schools receiving federal internet subsidies (E-Rate funding) would be required to block social media on school networks and devices. Schools must certify they are monitoring and filtering social media access to keep receiving those discounted services.
• The FTC and state attorneys general would enforce the law. Violations would be treated as unfair or deceptive trade practices, and states could sue companies on behalf of their residents for damages and other relief.
• The bill does not require companies to use intrusive age verification like ID scanning. It relies on what companies already know or should reasonably know about a user's age. Many types of platforms are excluded, including educational tools, email, messaging apps, video games, and news sites.
• Title I takes effect one year after the bill becomes law. Title II requires the FCC to update its rules within 120 days and gives schools a phased timeline to comply, with waivers available for those facing procurement delays.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.