The Safe Messaging for Kids Act of 2025 seeks to safeguard minors, defined as individuals under 17, from potential harms associated with certain social media features. It specifically targets ephemeral messaging and unsolicited direct contact on platforms where the provider knows or should know the user is a minor. The bill defines a "social media platform" broadly to include services enabling user profiles, network connections, and user-generated content sharing with integral interpersonal communication. A core provision of the Act is the outright prohibition of ephemeral messaging features for covered users. These features, which automatically delete messages after a set time, once viewed, or upon exiting a chat, are deemed inaccessible to minors. This aims to prevent content from disappearing before parents or guardians can intervene if necessary. Furthermore, the bill mandates that social media platforms provide easily accessible and usable parental direct messaging controls for minors. Parents must be able to activate and manage these controls through verifiable parental consent, with clear explanations of their operation. These controls must be prominently displayed to parents and users creating profiles for likely minors. The required parental controls include several key functionalities. Parents must receive timely notifications for direct messaging requests from unapproved contacts , allowing them to approve or deny the request before communication begins. They can also view and manage a list of approved contacts, be informed if their child changes their age on a profile, and have the ability to disable any direct messaging feature entirely. For covered users under 13, direct messaging features must be disabled by default, though parents can provide consent to enable them. The Act also requires app stores to provide clear warnings to parents when a minor attempts to download an app with direct messaging features, provided the parent has set up such a requirement. Enforcement of these provisions falls under the purview of the Federal Trade Commission , treating violations as unfair or deceptive acts or practices. State Attorneys General are also empowered to bring civil actions on behalf of their residents. Importantly, the bill includes strong rules of construction regarding encryption, stating that nothing in the Act requires social media providers to weaken, decrypt, or impair any form of encryption, including end-to-end encryption. The Act must be implemented in a manner that respects user privacy and security, and does not encourage systemic surveillance. Additionally, the Act's provisions preempt any conflicting state or local laws.