Safe Social Media Act

The "Safe Social Media Act" mandates the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) , in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to undertake a comprehensive study on social media platform use among individuals younger than 17. This study will investigate several critical aspects, including the types of personal information collected by platforms, how this data is utilized by algorithms for purposes like targeted advertising , and the frequency of daily use by teenagers. Furthermore, the study will analyze differences in social media use across various age ranges within this demographic, focusing on the mental health effects and potential harmful or beneficial outcomes from extended platform engagement. Within three years of enactment, the FTC is required to submit a detailed report of its findings to Congress, which must include any recommended policy changes. The Act defines "social media platform" as a public-facing website or application primarily providing a forum for user-generated content, explicitly excluding broadband providers and email, and exempts this section from the Paperwork Reduction Act.