Social Media Age Limits 1-3-26

In 2025, proposed US social media limits focus heavily on protecting minors, with federal bills like the Kids

Off Social Media Act (S.278) aiming to ban under-13s, stop algorithmic recommendations for teens under 17, and mandate parental consent; states are also pushing laws for age verification, data privacy, and limiting features designed for compulsive use, though these face significant First Amendment legal challenges, with ongoing debates about balancing child protection with free speech rights, as seen with state laws in Utah, Texas, and Florida facing lawsuits.  

Key Federal Proposals (2025)

Kids Off Social Media Act (S.278): Prohibits platforms from allowing children under 13 to have accounts, bans algorithmic content recommendations for users under 17, and gives enforcement power to the FTC and state AGs, notes Senator Brian Schatz's website.

Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA): Both House and Senate versions aim to prevent harm to minors by requiring platforms to prevent harm, leading to age verification or content removal, says the ACLU. 

State-Level Actions & Trends (2025)

Age Verification & Parental Consent: States like Utah, Texas, and others have passed laws requiring parental consent or age verification for minors, with some (like Florida's) facing legal blocks, notes the American Consumer Institute and AVPA.

Data Privacy for Youth: Laws like Vermont's Age-Appropriate Design Code restrict data collection and limit features that encourage compulsive use (autoplay, late-night notifications) for minors, reports Duane Morris Government Strategies.

School-Based Restrictions: Bills propose banning devices in schools or requiring safety courses. 

Major Challenges

First Amendment Concerns: The ACLU and others argue age verification and content restrictions often violate free speech, with courts often striking down broad attempts to regulate online speech.

Enforcement Difficulties: Implementing effective age verification and balancing free speech rights remain significant hurdles, as highlighted by lawsuits from groups like NetChoice. 

In 2025, social media limits in the U.S. have expanded through major federal proposals and a surge of new state-level mandates. These efforts primarily target minors, focusing on age bans, algorithmic restrictions, and time limits. 

Federal Proposals (119th Congress)

The primary federal effort in 2025 is the Kids Off Social Media Act (S. 278), a bipartisan bill introduced in January. Its core proposals include: 

Minimum Age Ban: Prohibiting children under 13 from creating or maintaining social media accounts.

Algorithm Restrictions: Banning platforms from using algorithmic recommendation systems to suggest content to users under 17.

School Network Limits: Requiring schools receiving federal "E-Rate" funding to block social media on their networks and devices.

Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA): Reintroduced in May 2025, this bill proposes a "duty of care" for platforms to prevent harm to minors (e.g., bullying, eating disorders) and mandates stricter privacy defaults. 

State-Level Mandates and Laws

As of late 2025, over 20 states have enacted or proposed specific restrictions: 

Common Features of 2025 Legislation

Addictive Feature Bans: Multiple states (CT, NY, CA) have targeted "addictive algorithms," infinite scrolling, and autoplay.

Time-Based Restrictions: Proposals include "curfews" (e.g., blocking notifications between midnight and 6 a.m.) and strict daily usage caps.

Enhanced Parental Tools: Laws in states like Nebraska and Nevada require platforms to give parents direct access to monitor a minor’s posts and messages.

ID Verification: A growing number of proposals require users to upload government IDs or use facial age estimation to access platforms. 

Note on Legal Challenges: Many of these laws, particularly absolute bans for minors in states like 

Arkansas and Ohio, remain tied up in federal court over First Amendment and free speech concerns. 

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Comments

Most Teen Use of “Social Media” is between school friends who feel free to text each other constantly.

State Legislature solutions are not going to solve the problem. Children will need to return to “face-to-face” interactions and be held accountable for deficiencies in reading, writing and math.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader