A new bipartisan proposal is seeking to set a nationwide age limit for the use of social media. Read to know more about the bill.
US Bill to Ban Social Media for children under 13.
A new bill introduced in the US Senate is going to set a nationwide age to limit the use of social media. The federal bill will ban those under the age of 13 from using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and many more. The ‘Protecting Kids on Social Media Bill’ is also proposing tech firms require parental consent before teenagers can create an account. “The bill seeks to address what experts say a mental health crisis fuelled by social media,” stated the CNN report.
According to the new bill, 13-year-old or younger children will be barred from creating accounts and interacting with other users. However, they will be able to view content without logging in. Additionally, it bans companies from using the personal information of teens for targeted ads.
More on the new bill:
Under the new bill, companies like Instagram and Facebook will require users to be at least 13 years old before creating an account. “Social media companies have stumbled onto a stubborn, devastating fact. The way to get kids to linger on the platforms and maximize profit is to upset them. To make them outraged, to make them agitated, to make them scared. To make them vulnerable, to make them feel helpless, anxious, and despondent,” stated Brian Schatz. He is a Hawaii Democratic Senator and one of the architects of the bill. Additionally, he called it a “common sense and bipartisan approach to help stop this suffering.”
