S. 278 · On the floor · Science, Technology, Communications

Kids Off Social Media Act

Sponsor: Brian Schatz (D-HI)

What it does

• Prohibits social media platforms from knowingly allowing children under 13 to create or maintain accounts, and requires deleting existing child accounts and their personal data.
• Generally bars platforms from using automated systems to suggest or promote content based on personal data collected from users under 17.
• Directs the FTC to enforce the provisions and lets states bring civil actions when violations adversely affect their residents.
• Requires schools receiving E-Rate telecommunications discounts to enforce policies and use blocking or filtering technology preventing social media access on supported services, networks, and devices.
• Requires schools that fail to make a good faith effort to comply to repay E-Rate support for the period and to submit internet safety policies to the FCC for publication.

Official 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. 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 their residents. Further, as a condition of receiving discounted telecommunications service under the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support (E-Rate) program, schools must enforce policies preventing the use of E-Rate-supported services, networks, and devices to access social media, and must use blocking or filtering technology to prevent such access. Schools that do not make a good faith…

Latest action

Jun 30, 2025: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 108.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation