SE North Carolina News

Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) has joined forces with several other senators to introduce the Kids Off Social Media Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at setting limits on social media use for children. The bill proposes a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prohibits social media companies from providing algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17.

In a statement, Senator Budd expressed his concerns about the mental health crisis among young people, stating, “Parents in North Carolina and across the country are rightly concerned about the mental health crisis among our young people. This bipartisan bill includes the Eyes on the Board Act, which is a commonsense solution to ensure that kids are focused on their studies at school rather than social media. I’m proud to join my colleagues to propose a solution to ensure that the next generation of Americans is protected from harmful habits that rob them of their attention and their mental health.”

Senator Cruz also emphasized the importance of the legislation, highlighting the negative impacts of social media on children's mental well-being. He stated, “Every parent with a young child or a teenager either worries about, or knows first-hand, the real harms and dangers of addictive and anxiety-inducing social media... Young students should have their eyes on the board, not their phones.”

Senator Schatz echoed these sentiments, pointing out the detrimental effects of social media on children's mental health. He emphasized the urgency for action, stating, “There is no good reason for a nine-year-old to be on Instagram or TikTok... This is an urgent health crisis, and Congress must act.”

The bipartisan effort aims to address the growing concerns surrounding children's use of social media and its impact on their mental well-being.