Massachusetts lawmakers are expected to vote today on a proposed bill that would ban social media use for all children under the age of 14.
The House has said the ban would be among the most restrictive in the nation. It would prohibit social media use for children under 14 in Massachusetts and require social media platforms to obtain parental consent for children between the ages of 14 and 15. At the age of 16, minors would be able to use social media without parental consent.
The current proposal would also ban students from using cellphones in school.
If passed, the law would go into effect Oct. 1, impacting the next school year.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives will vote on legislation prohibiting young kids from using social media.
Parents who spoke to NBC10 Boston say they are behind the legislation.
“Children’s brains aren’t fully developed to understand all that they need to be able to process in order to effectively and safely use social media,” Lauren Dyer said.
“I grew up kind of an Internet native kid, but I feel like very quickly that it turns you onto some tricky patterns and so I see no reason why not to enforce a ban for kids,” Patrick Wawson said.
House Speaker Ron Mariano and House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz said in a joint statement that the legislation would take significant steps to protect Bay State children.
“The simple reality is that Massachusetts must do more to ensure that our laws keep pace with modern challenges – especially when it comes to protecting our children, and to setting students up for success in the classroom and beyond,” they wrote.
Gov. Maura Healey had proposed a similar ban in her State of the Commonwealth speech earlier this year, but hers would have applied to all children under 18.
Here’s a detailed summary of the proposed bill, from House leadership:
Social media ban for minors
- Under 14 Ban on Social Media Use: Requires a social media platform to prohibit a minor under the age of 14 from using any social media platform.
- 14- and 15-Years Olds Parental Consent for Social Media Use: Requires a social media platform to allow a minor who is 14 or 15 years of age to use a social media platform only if the platforms receive verifiable consent from the parent.
- At the age of 16 minors may use social media without parental consent.
- Social media companies would be required to implement an age verification system to determine whether a current or prospective user on the social media platform meets the age requirement.
- Parents of a minor user would be given access to data submitted by the user from the social media platforms
- The Attorney General would be required to promulgate regulations to implement this not later than September 1, 2026.
- This policy would go into effect October 1, 2026.
Restrictions on cellphones in schools
- Requires school districts to have a policy to prohibit student use of personal electronic devices during the school day and during school-sponsored activities during the school day
- DESE must provide districts with guidance, recommendations and a model policy to implement the restrictions.
- Creates a pilot program run by DESE to administer for 10 districts to provide for a technological means of rendering students’ personal electronic devices inoperable on school grounds during the school day.
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has said that she supports the effort and awaits next steps on a plan.
