This comprehensive bill, titled the Kids Off Social Media Act, aims to safeguard children and teens from the potential harms of social media. It establishes strict age-based restrictions on platform access and the use of personalized recommendation systems. The legislation is divided into three main titles, addressing different aspects of social media regulation for minors and educational institutions. Title I, the Kids Off Social Media Act , prohibits social media platforms from allowing individuals under the age of 13 to create or maintain accounts. Platforms are mandated to terminate existing accounts if they know the user is a child and must delete all associated personal data. However, children are granted a 90-day window to request a copy of their data after account termination. Furthermore, Title I restricts the use of personalized recommendation systems for individuals under the age of 17. Social media platforms cannot use a child's or teen's personal data to display content through such systems, with narrow exceptions for basic information like device type, language, and location. This provision seeks to limit algorithmic exposure and manipulation for younger users. The bill defines "knows" as actual knowledge or knowledge "fairly implied on the basis of objective circumstances," but explicitly states that platforms are not required to implement age gating or collect additional personal data for age verification. Enforcement of these provisions falls under the purview of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) , treating violations as unfair or deceptive acts. State Attorneys General are also empowered to bring civil actions to ensure compliance and seek remedies. Title II, known as the Eyes on the Board Act of 2025 , focuses on limiting social media use within educational settings. It amends the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) to include social media platforms in its scope. This means elementary and secondary schools receiving federal E-Rate subsidies must implement policies to prevent students from accessing social media on school-supported services, devices, and networks. Schools are required to certify their compliance, which includes monitoring online activities and operating technology protection measures to block social media access for students. While this measure aims to create a focused learning environment, it includes exceptions for district-sanctioned learning management systems and teachers using social media for direct educational instruction. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is tasked with enforcing these new CIPA requirements and establishing a public database of school internet safety policies. The bill outlines a phased implementation for schools, allowing a grace period for those needing to establish new measures, but ultimately requiring compliance to maintain federal funding. Non-compliant schools may face loss of subsidies or be required to reimburse funds. Finally, Title III includes a severability clause , ensuring that if any provision of the Act is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-33.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 108.
Science, Technology, Communications
Business recordsChild safety and welfareCivil actions and liabilityComputers and information technologyConsumer affairsEducational facilities and institutionsElementary and secondary educationInternet, web applications, social mediaState and local government operations
Kids Off Social Media Act
USA119th CongressS-278| Senate
| Updated: 6/30/2025
This comprehensive bill, titled the Kids Off Social Media Act, aims to safeguard children and teens from the potential harms of social media. It establishes strict age-based restrictions on platform access and the use of personalized recommendation systems. The legislation is divided into three main titles, addressing different aspects of social media regulation for minors and educational institutions. Title I, the Kids Off Social Media Act , prohibits social media platforms from allowing individuals under the age of 13 to create or maintain accounts. Platforms are mandated to terminate existing accounts if they know the user is a child and must delete all associated personal data. However, children are granted a 90-day window to request a copy of their data after account termination. Furthermore, Title I restricts the use of personalized recommendation systems for individuals under the age of 17. Social media platforms cannot use a child's or teen's personal data to display content through such systems, with narrow exceptions for basic information like device type, language, and location. This provision seeks to limit algorithmic exposure and manipulation for younger users. The bill defines "knows" as actual knowledge or knowledge "fairly implied on the basis of objective circumstances," but explicitly states that platforms are not required to implement age gating or collect additional personal data for age verification. Enforcement of these provisions falls under the purview of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) , treating violations as unfair or deceptive acts. State Attorneys General are also empowered to bring civil actions to ensure compliance and seek remedies. Title II, known as the Eyes on the Board Act of 2025 , focuses on limiting social media use within educational settings. It amends the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) to include social media platforms in its scope. This means elementary and secondary schools receiving federal E-Rate subsidies must implement policies to prevent students from accessing social media on school-supported services, devices, and networks. Schools are required to certify their compliance, which includes monitoring online activities and operating technology protection measures to block social media access for students. While this measure aims to create a focused learning environment, it includes exceptions for district-sanctioned learning management systems and teachers using social media for direct educational instruction. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is tasked with enforcing these new CIPA requirements and establishing a public database of school internet safety policies. The bill outlines a phased implementation for schools, allowing a grace period for those needing to establish new measures, but ultimately requiring compliance to maintain federal funding. Non-compliant schools may face loss of subsidies or be required to reimburse funds. Finally, Title III includes a severability clause , ensuring that if any provision of the Act is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.
Business recordsChild safety and welfareCivil actions and liabilityComputers and information technologyConsumer affairsEducational facilities and institutionsElementary and secondary educationInternet, web applications, social mediaState and local government operations