Brian Schatz

News Press Releases Published: 01.15.2026 At Commerce Hearing, Schatz Underscores Need To Protect Kids From Addictive Algorithms On Social Media, Calls For Cellphone Ban In Schools Schatz Leads Bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act To Set Age Minimum, Ban Algorithmic Targeting For Kids WASHINGTON – During a hearing on screen time in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) highlighted the negative impacts of addictive social media algorithms on children and the need to ban algorithmic targeting for kids who are still developing. Schatz’s bipartisan legislation, the Kids Off Social Media Act, bans algorithmic targeting for children under 17, in addition to setting a minimum age of 13 for social media use. “I'm quite skeptical of this model in which the social media platforms give you the opportunity to either tweak the algorithm or turn off the algorithm – no one's going to do that. I think banning the algorithmic feed for kids who are not yet fully developed is a is a very powerful tool,” said Senator Schatz. Schatz also called for a bell-to-bell ban on phones in schools, noting that phones distract students from learning and socializing with their peers. “I think we should have a bell-to-bell ban,” said Senator Schatz. “Social media is particularly terrible for children. But having all the world's information in your phone is probably not a great way to lock in when it comes to learning algebra or American history. And so putting the damn thing away and making sure that no other kid has access to it is absolutely essential.” A video of Senator Schatz’s remarks and exchange with witnesses is available here. ### Print Email Share Tweet Previous Article Next Article

<p><strong>Kids Off Social Media Act</strong></p><p>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.&nbsp;</p><p>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.&nbsp;</p><p>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 effort to comply and correct known violations are required to reimburse any E-Rate support they received for the applicable period.&nbsp;Schools must also submit copies of their internet safety policies to the Federal Communications Commission for publication.&nbsp;</p><p>Under the bill, <em>social media platforms</em> are defined as public-facing sites that function primarily as forums for user-generated content. Some categories of online platforms are explicitly excluded, including sites that provide primarily videoconferencing, emailing, or educational services.</p>

<p><strong>Kids Off Social Media Act</strong></p><p>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 and screen time.&nbsp;</p><p>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 residents of the state.&nbsp;</p><p>Further, as a condition of receiving discounted telecommunications service under the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support (E-Rate) program, schools must use blocking or filtering technology to prevent students from accessing social media platforms on school networks and devices. Schools receiving E-Rate support must also implement policies that specify permitted device usage and screen time by grade. Schools must submit copies of their internet safety and screen time policies to the Federal Communications Commission, and the commission must make those policies publicly available in a database.&nbsp;</p><p>Under the bill, <em>social media platforms</em> are defined as consumer-facing sites that function primarily as forums for user-generated content. Some categories of online platforms are explicitly excluded, including sites that provide primarily videoconferencing, emailing, and educational services.</p>

<p><strong>Transformational Artificial intelligence to Modernize the Economy against Extreme Weather Act or the TAME Extreme Weather Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires several agencies to develop programs that use artificial intelligence (AI) to support weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and the energy grid.</p><p>For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must develop an Earth system reanalysis dataset that provides a record of past weather events so as to support AI weather forecast applications. NOAA must also develop an AI program that analyzes environmental data to support wildfire forecasts.&nbsp;</p><p>Additionally, the Department of Agriculture must use AI to analyze data with respect to deforestation, the movement of illegal wood products, and associated changes. The Department of Energy must establish an AI program to optimize energy grids with respect to energy production, stability, and efficiency.</p>

<p><b>Protecting Kids on Social Media Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires social media platforms to verify the age of account holders and limits access to such platforms by children.</p> <p>Specifically, social media platforms (1) must verify the age of account holders, (2) may not allow an individual to create or continue to use an account unless the individual's age has been verified, and (3) must limit access to the platform for children under the age of 13. Social media platforms may not use or retain any information collected during the age verification process for any other purpose.</p> <p>Further, platforms must take reasonable steps to (1) require affirmative consent from the parent or guardian of a minor who is at least 13 years old to create an account for the minor on the platform, and (2) provide the parent or guardian with the ability to revoke such consent.</p> <p>Social media platforms may not use the personal data of an individual in an algorithmic recommendation system unless the individual is at least 18 years old according to the platform's age verification process.</p> <p>The bill requires the Department of Commerce to establish a voluntary pilot program to provide secure digital identification credentials for individuals to use when verifying their age on social media platforms. Commerce may issue rules for social media companies to enroll in the program.</p> <p>The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general (or other authorized state officials).</p>

Vote: YEA on Blackburn Amdt. No. 2814; To strike the section relating to support for artificial intelligence. - On the Amendment <measure>S.Amdt. 2814</measure>