Some states are rewriting the rules governing how children and teenagers use the internet, while lawmakers in Washington weigh new federal restrictions that could reshape age verification requirements nationwide.
The legislative push comes amid an intensifying debate over children’s online safety, social media addiction and digital privacy. Supporters argue that stronger safeguards are necessary to protect minors from harmful content and addictive platform features. Critics, however, contend that sweeping proposals could undermine user privacy and restrict access to legal online content. Prominent tech industry trade associations, including NetChoice, have pushed back against these measures, arguing in court that state-level age verification and feed restrictions violate the First Amendment and user privacy.
Why It Matters
For years, digital platforms have relied primarily on users self-reporting their age. But policymakers across the country are increasingly pushing for strict age-assurance systems, mandatory parental controls and limitations on features designed to keep young users engaged.
The domestic trend mirrors a broader international shift. Australia has advanced plans to ban social media access for children under 16, while the United Kingdom has introduced stringent online safety requirements for digital platforms.
The Mental Health Toll of Early Smartphone Access
Fueling the legislative urgency is a growing body of scientific research linking early digital exposure to long-term psychological consequences. A major study analyzing data from more than 100,000 young people worldwide, published last year in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, found that getting a smartphone before age 13 is linked to higher risks of suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, low self-worth and emotional regulation difficulties in early adulthood.
The research, conducted by Sapien Labs as part of the Global Mind Project, revealed that 18-to-24-year-olds who received a smartphone at age 12 or younger reported significantly worse mental health outcomes, with scores plummeting the younger the device was acquired. Researchers traced the damage primarily to early social media access—which accounted for about 40 percent of the link—alongside disrupted sleep, cyberbullying and poor family relationships.
Lead author and neuroscientist Tara Thiagarajan noted that the findings point to a universal developmental effect. Consequently, the study’s researchers urged policymakers to adopt a precautionary approach akin to alcohol and tobacco regulations, implementing graduated ownership restrictions, digital literacy education, and strict enforcement of age limits on social media platforms.
Federal Push: The SCREEN Act
In Congress, high-profile proposals have zeroed in on adult content and age enforcement. Among them is the Shielding Children’s Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act, sponsored last year by Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah.
The legislation would require pornography websites to implement robust age verification technology to block minors. The measure explicitly prohibits simple self-attestation, such as entering a birth date. It includes provisions to limit data collection and retention, granting enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
“As a mother of seven and grandmother to 20, I am committed to defending parental rights,” GOP Representative Mary Miller of Illinois, who leads the companion bill in the House of Representatives, said. “I am proud to join Senator Mike Lee in introducing the SCREEN Act to the House, providing parents with more control over their children’s online access and protecting our kids from exposure to pornography. I urge my colleagues in the House to act swiftly in adopting the SCREEN Act to protect American children.”
Proponents argue that verification technology has advanced enough to clear constitutional hurdles previously raised by the courts. Opponents caution that mandated identity checks threaten privacy, free speech and data security.
States Press Ahead
While Congress debates federal action, some states are increasingly implementing their own protections.:
- New York: Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James finalized rules for the state’s Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act. The statute restricts algorithmic feeds and overnight notifications for users under 18 without parental consent, while setting standards to minimize personal data collection during age verification. The law is scheduled to take effect in January 2027.
- Illinois: Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Children’s Social Media Safety Act. The law mandates that social media companies verify ages through device operating systems and places limits on location sharing, algorithmically curated feeds, and overnight notifications. It is scheduled to take effect in 2028.
Lawmakers are also exploring collaborative federal measures. Last month, Representatives Pat Harrigan, a North Carolina Republican, and George Whitesides, a California Democrat, introduced the bipartisan Tracking Online Time And Limits (TOTAL) Screen Time Act. Rather than imposing mandates, the bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop a voluntary standard allowing parents to manage screen time across multiple devices through a single system.
What Happens Next
The flurry of activity points toward a more regulated digital environment for young Americans, even as a uniform national framework remains elusive.
As state-level restrictions start to grow and federal mandates move through the legislative pipeline, families, technology companies and young users face significant shifts in the digital landscape ahead. Meanwhile, ongoing courtroom battles between tech advocates and state attorneys general look set to determine the ultimate constitutional boundaries of online regulation.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Matthew Cannon and Anthony Murray.
