SCREEN Act

Key Points

• Social media companies would be required to turn on the highest privacy settings by default for users under age 17. This includes limiting who can message them and stopping the apps from automatically recommending their profiles to strangers. Parents would also get new tools to track their child's screen time and manage who they talk to online.
• Websites that primarily host adult content would have to use age-verification technology to block minors from entering. While the bill says companies cannot be forced to collect government IDs, they must use effective, commercially available methods to ensure users are adults before they can view harmful material.
• The policy bans 'disappearing' or ephemeral messages for all minors and completely stops kids under 13 from using direct messaging features. Online video games would also have to include parental controls that let adults limit who their children can talk to and restrict in-game purchases.
• Companies that make AI chatbots would have to clearly tell kids they are talking to a computer, not a person. These bots would be required to suggest that users take a break after three hours of continuous use and must provide links to suicide prevention hotlines if a child mentions self-harm or a crisis.
• The Federal Trade Commission and state officials would have the power to fine companies that fail to follow these safety rules. Additionally, the government would launch new studies to understand how social media affects teen mental health and how drug dealers use online platforms to reach young people.