House Lawmakers Reach Bipartisan Deal to Require Social Media Safeguards for Kids

U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders reached a bipartisan agreement on new legislation requiring social media platforms to implement safeguards for children, marking a significant step in protecting minors from digital harms linked to poor youth mental health. The deal, which holds Big Tech accountable without including a mandatory "duty of care" clause, allows states to enact stricter regulations offering greater protection than the federal baseline, a key victory for Democrats. While specific details were not released, the agreement aligns with broader efforts like the Kids Off Social Media Act to ban children under 13 from creating accounts and prevent algorithmic recommendations for users under 17, empowering the FTC and state attorneys general to enforce these rules. This legislative progress addresses growing concerns about social media's impact on teenagers by creating safer online environments while maintaining parental and school control over digital access.