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A bipartisan group of lawmakers have introduced legislation that would set boundaries for minors on social media platforms. 

Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Brian Schatz of Hawaii have proposed the “Kids Off Social Media Act,” which aims to establish a minimum usage age and restrict algorithmic content exposure to younger audiences. The legislation, first introduced by Schatz in spring 2023, mandates that social media users be at least 13 years old, with further restrictions on content algorithms for users under 17.

Under the new bill, platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat would require parental permission for users under 18. In a statement, Senator Schatz said, “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.” 

Echoing Schatz’s concerns, Senator Cruz emphasized the psychological impacts of social media on children, noting the dangers of addictive and anxiety-inducing content. He said, “Every parent with a young child or a teenager either worries about, or knows first-hand, the real harms and dangers of addicted and anxiety-inducing social media. Parents know there’s no good reason for a child to be doom-scrolling or binge-watching reels that glorify unhealthy lifestyles.” 

The bill has garnered support from multiple senators across party lines, though it will likely face significant pushback from social media companies that have previously indicated they do not support a ban on children under 13.