Summary
The Kids Off Social Media Act would impose significant restrictions on how social media platforms operate. If enacted, platforms would be prohibited from allowing children under 13 to create or maintain accounts, and would be required to delete existing accounts held by children along with their personal data. For users under 17, platforms would generally be prohibited from using automated systems to suggest or promote content based on personal data. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules, and states could bring legal action against platforms that violate these provisions.
The bill would also affect schools that receive discounted internet service through the federal E-Rate program. Schools would be required to implement policies blocking social media access on E-Rate-supported networks and devices, using filtering technology to prevent such access. Schools that fail to make good faith efforts to comply would be required to repay any E-Rate funding they received during periods of non-compliance. Schools would also need to submit their internet safety policies to the Federal Communications Commission for publication.
This bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the Senate, though it has not yet been enacted into law. The practical impact would depend on how platforms and schools interpret and implement these requirements, as well as any legal challenges that might arise.
AI-generated summary
Lifecycle of the Bill
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Feb 5, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Feb 5, 2025 · 15:00
Business meeting to consider S.93, to amend the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to address harmful algal blooms, S.98, to require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding, S.99, to require the Secretary of Commerce to produce a report that provides recommendations to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of Department of Commerce programs related to supply chain resilience and manufacturing and industrial innovation, S.161, to require the Secretary of Transportation to issue rules relating to the testing procedures used under the New Car Assessment Program of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, S.195, to amend the Visit America Act to promote music tourism, S.216, to amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Foundation, to amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, S.245, to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to establish a working group on cyber insurance, to require dissemination of informative resources for issuers and customers of cyber insurance, S.246, to protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives interstate, notwithstanding a patchwork of local and State prohibitions, S.257, to improve the resilience of critical supply chains, S.258, to improve forecasting and understanding of tornadoes and other hazardous weather, S.260, to amend the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act to require hygienic handling of breast milk and baby formula by security screening personnel of the Transportation Security Administration and personnel of private security companies providing security screening, S.278, to prohibit users who are under age 13 from accessing social media platforms, to prohibit the use of personalized recommendation systems on individuals under age 17, and limit the use of social media in schools, S.281, to require sellers of event tickets to disclose comprehensive information to consumers about ticket prices and related fees, to prohibit speculative ticketing, S.283, to require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, S.306, to establish and maintain a coordinated program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that improves wildfire, fire weather, fire risk, and wildfire smoke related forecasting, detection, modeling, observations, and service delivery, S.314, to prohibit unfair and deceptive advertising of prices for hotel rooms and other places of short-term lodging, S.315, to require the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in passenger motor vehicles, and the nomination of Howard Lutnick, of New York, to be Secretary of Commerce.
Summary
On February 5, 2025, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a business meeting to consider a broad agenda of 16 bills spanning multiple policy areas under the committee's jurisdiction. The bills addressed diverse topics including environmental protection through harmful algal bloom research and wildfire forecasting improvements, consumer protection through hotel fee transparency and ticket pricing disclosure requirements, infrastructure and supply chain resilience, broadband access and cyber insurance initiatives, transportation safety and vehicle technology standards, and social media regulations for minors. The committee also considered the nomination of Howard Lutnick to serve as Secretary of Commerce. The meeting focused on bills related to marine debris administration, music tourism promotion, knife transport rights, seafood origin identification standards, and AM radio access in vehicles, among others. No witnesses were listed as testifying at this business meeting, which was a procedural session for the committee to consider advancing these measures. A business meeting of this nature typically involves committee members discussing and voting on whether to advance bills to the full Senate floor, though holding a hearing does not guarantee passage of any legislation.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-33.
Jun 30, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-33.
Jun 30, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Feb 5, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Feb 5, 2025 · 15:00
Business meeting to consider S.93, to amend the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to address harmful algal blooms, S.98, to require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding, S.99, to require the Secretary of Commerce to produce a report that provides recommendations to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of Department of Commerce programs related to supply chain resilience and manufacturing and industrial innovation, S.161, to require the Secretary of Transportation to issue rules relating to the testing procedures used under the New Car Assessment Program of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, S.195, to amend the Visit America Act to promote music tourism, S.216, to amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Foundation, to amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, S.245, to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to establish a working group on cyber insurance, to require dissemination of informative resources for issuers and customers of cyber insurance, S.246, to protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives interstate, notwithstanding a patchwork of local and State prohibitions, S.257, to improve the resilience of critical supply chains, S.258, to improve forecasting and understanding of tornadoes and other hazardous weather, S.260, to amend the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act to require hygienic handling of breast milk and baby formula by security screening personnel of the Transportation Security Administration and personnel of private security companies providing security screening, S.278, to prohibit users who are under age 13 from accessing social media platforms, to prohibit the use of personalized recommendation systems on individuals under age 17, and limit the use of social media in schools, S.281, to require sellers of event tickets to disclose comprehensive information to consumers about ticket prices and related fees, to prohibit speculative ticketing, S.283, to require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, S.306, to establish and maintain a coordinated program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that improves wildfire, fire weather, fire risk, and wildfire smoke related forecasting, detection, modeling, observations, and service delivery, S.314, to prohibit unfair and deceptive advertising of prices for hotel rooms and other places of short-term lodging, S.315, to require the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in passenger motor vehicles, and the nomination of Howard Lutnick, of New York, to be Secretary of Commerce.
Summary
On February 5, 2025, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a business meeting to consider a broad agenda of 16 bills spanning multiple policy areas under the committee's jurisdiction. The bills addressed diverse topics including environmental protection through harmful algal bloom research and wildfire forecasting improvements, consumer protection through hotel fee transparency and ticket pricing disclosure requirements, infrastructure and supply chain resilience, broadband access and cyber insurance initiatives, transportation safety and vehicle technology standards, and social media regulations for minors. The committee also considered the nomination of Howard Lutnick to serve as Secretary of Commerce. The meeting focused on bills related to marine debris administration, music tourism promotion, knife transport rights, seafood origin identification standards, and AM radio access in vehicles, among others. No witnesses were listed as testifying at this business meeting, which was a procedural session for the committee to consider advancing these measures. A business meeting of this nature typically involves committee members discussing and voting on whether to advance bills to the full Senate floor, though holding a hearing does not guarantee passage of any legislation.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-33.
Jun 30, 2025
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-33.
Jun 30, 2025
