PTC Says “Kids Off Social Media Act” to Stop Youth Age 13 and Younger from Creating/Maintaining Social Media Accounts

LOS ANGELES (May 1, 2024) – The Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) called on Congress to pass the Kids Off Social Media Act, introduced by a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators this week.

The Kids Off Social Media Act would “prohibit children under the age of 13 from creating or maintaining social media accounts, consistent with the current practices of major social media companies; prohibit social media companies from pushing targeted content using algorithms to users under the age of 17; provide the FTC and state attorneys general authority to enforce the provisions of the bill; and follow the existing CIPA framework to require schools to block and filter social media on their federally funded networks, which many schools already do.”

“This commonsense legislation will give support to parents who don’t want their children on social media, as it forbids children 13 and younger from having social media accounts. It also curtails the ability for social media platforms to target youth under age 17,” said Melissa Henson, Vice President, Parents Television and Media Council.

“Children are experiencing a plethora of online harms caused by powerful algorithms that target them, by predators who seek to entice them, and ultimately, from tech companies that seek to market to them. Big Tech needs more accountability. The Kids Off Social Media Act will help ensure that children have an extra layer of protection from tech platforms.”

“Congress also needs to pass crucial child safety solutions like the Kids Online Safety Act, the EARN IT Act, and the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act 2.0. Our children’s health and well-being cannot wait,” Henson said.

The Parents Television and Media Council has created a Resource Center for parents and caregivers with the latest information and research about protecting children online and from explicit media marketed to them.