Kids Off Social Media Act
Latest action · Apr 30, 2024 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedApr 30, 2024
- Passed SenateNot reached
- Passed HouseNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Kids Off Social Media Act
This bill limits children’s access to social media platforms and requires both platforms and schools to implement certain restrictions on children’s social media usage and screen time.
Specifically, the bill prohibits social media platforms from knowingly allowing children under the age of 13 to create or maintain accounts. Platforms must delete existing accounts held by children and any personal data collected from child users. Platforms are also generally prohibited from using automated systems to suggest or promote content based on personal data collected from users under the age of 17. The bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to enforce these provisions. States may also bring civil actions against platforms whose violations of these provisions have adversely affected residents of the state.
Further, as a condition of receiving discounted telecommunications service under the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support (E-Rate) program, schools must use blocking or filtering technology to prevent students from accessing social media platforms on school networks and devices. Schools receiving E-Rate support must also implement policies that specify permitted device usage and screen time by grade. Schools must submit copies of their internet safety and screen time policies to the Federal Communications Commission, and the commission must make those policies publicly available in a database.
Under the bill, social media platforms are defined as consumer-facing sites that function primarily as forums for user-generated content. Some categories of online platforms are explicitly excluded, including sites that provide primarily videoconferencing, emailing, and educational services.
Cosponsors 5
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Apr 30, 2024.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-CT | Christopher Murphy | Original | Apr 30, 2024 |
| R-AL | Katie Boyd Britt | Original | Apr 30, 2024 |
| D-VT | Peter Welch | Original | Apr 30, 2024 |
| R-NC | Ted Budd | Original | Apr 30, 2024 |
| R-TX | Ted Cruz | Original | Apr 30, 2024 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Senate | Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee | Referred Apr 30, 2024 |
Actions 2
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Apr 30, 2024Introduced in Senate
- Apr 30, 2024Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In the Congressional Record 4
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Debate and remarks S6618 | Katie Boyd Britt R-AL | Nov 19, 2024 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S5537 | Brian Schatz D-HI | Jul 29, 2024 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S3750 | Brian Schatz D-HI | May 16, 2024 |
| Senate | Notices S3689Intention to object to S. 4213, Kids Off Social Media Act | Ron Wyden D-OR | May 14, 2024 |
Titles 3
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- A bill to prohibit users who are under age 13 from accessing social media platforms, to prohibit the use of personalized recommendation systems on individuals under age 17, and limit the use of social media in schools.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- Kids Off Social Media Act
- Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill
- Eyes on the Board Act of 2024
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications.
- Business records
- Child safety and welfare
- Civil actions and liability
- Computers and information technology
- Consumer affairs
- Educational facilities and institutions
- Elementary and secondary education
- Internet, web applications, social media
- Science, Technology, Communications
- State and local government operations
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Apr 30, 2024Introduced in Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
