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S 1291 118th Congress Senate Commerce

Protecting Kids on Social Media Act

Introduced: June 7, 2023 Introduced by: Schatz, Brian Democratic · Hawaii See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 26, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Apr 26, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting Kids on Social Media Act

This bill requires social media platforms to verify the age of account holders and limits access to such platforms by children.

Specifically, social media platforms (1) must verify the age of account holders, (2) may not allow an individual to create or continue to use an account unless the individual's age has been verified, and (3) must limit access to the platform for children under the age of 13. Social media platforms may not use or retain any information collected during the age verification process for any other purpose.

Further, platforms must take reasonable steps to (1) require affirmative consent from the parent or guardian of a minor who is at least 13 years old to create an account for the minor on the platform, and (2) provide the parent or guardian with the ability to revoke such consent.

Social media platforms may not use the personal data of an individual in an algorithmic recommendation system unless the individual is at least 18 years old according to the platform's age verification process.

The bill requires the Department of Commerce to establish a voluntary pilot program to provide secure digital identification credentials for individuals to use when verifying their age on social media platforms. Commerce may issue rules for social media companies to enroll in the program.

The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general (or other authorized state officials).

What's happening now April 26, 2023

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 6149 Identical bill Protecting Kids on Social Media Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 4

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

 Cosponsors 10
All 10 Democratic 5 Republican 4
D
Fetterman, John
Pennsylvania · Jul 27, 2023
 D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Jul 27, 2023
 R
Marshall, Roger
Kansas · Jul 27, 2023
Mullin, Markwayne
· Jun 7, 2023
 R
Ricketts, Pete
Nebraska · Jun 7, 2023
 D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Jun 7, 2023
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Jun 7, 2023
 R
Britt, Katie Boyd
Alabama · Apr 26, 2023
 R
Cotton, Tom
Arkansas · Apr 26, 2023
 D
Murphy, Christopher
Connecticut · Apr 26, 2023
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1291: Protecting Kids on Social Media Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-1291/
MLA
"S. 1291: Protecting Kids on Social Media Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-1291/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1291, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-1291/.
Markdown link
[S. 1291: Protecting Kids on Social Media Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-1291/)
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