# 119-s-278: Kids Off Social Media Act 119-s-278, Kids Off Social Media Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-278 - As of: 2026-09-10 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-278 - Congress: 119 - Title: Kids Off Social Media Act - Status: in_committee - Introduced: 2025-01-28 - Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI) - Cosponsors: 14 - Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-09-10 ## Summary **Restricting children's access to social media accounts and limiting algorithmic targeting.** This bill would bar most children under 13 from having social media accounts and would curb automated recommendation systems for users under 17. - Parents and children: Platforms would be prohibited from permitting accounts for children under 13 and must delete existing child accounts. Families could request a readable, portable copy of a terminated child’s personal data within 90 days. - Platforms and enforcement: Social media platforms would be barred from using personalized recommendation systems for users under 17, with a narrow exception that allows only basic attributes such as device type, language, city, and age for display purposes. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the rules and state attorneys general could bring parens patriae lawsuits, and platforms would be limited in how they collect and retain compliance-related data. - Schools and E-Rate subsidies: Schools receiving discounted broadband under the Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) program would have to block social media on school-provided networks, adopt internet safety policies, and submit those policies to the Federal Communications Commission. Schools must certify compliance within 120 days of the first affected funding year and be fully compliant by the second program year or risk losing discounts and repaying funds. ## Cosponsors (14) - Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX), 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] (R-AL), 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT), 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] (D-PA), 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI] (D-MI), 2025-06-03T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-06-09T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-06-25T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA] (R-PA), 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] (R-SC), 2026-02-09T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - FTC and states can enforce rules: benefit, medium. If enacted, Title I violations would be treated like unfair or deceptive acts under the FTC Act and the FTC could use its full enforcement powers. State attorneys general could sue on behalf of residents but must notify the FTC first. The FTC could intervene and take the lead in cases it files. The… - Limits on recommended feeds for minors: benefit, low. If enacted, platforms would be banned from using personal data to power personalized recommendation systems for known children and teens. A narrow exception would let systems use only device type, languages, city or town, age, and child/teen status. The bill would also say when a platform "knows" a… - No social accounts for young kids: benefit, low. If enacted, platforms could not let children under 13 have accounts. Platforms would have to close existing child accounts and delete the child’s personal data. The child or an authorized representative could request a copy of that data within 90 days after termination, when technically feasible. P… - New school rules for blocking social media: cost, high. If enacted, schools that get discounted Internet or services through the E‑rate program would have to certify they block student access to social media on school networks and devices, adopt Internet safety policies, and run technology protections and monitoring. The FCC would post submitted policie… - States can set stronger child rules: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would limit federal preemption so it only overrides State law when there is a direct conflict. States could pass stronger protections for children and teens. The bill would also clarify it does not change how FERPA or COPPA apply. ## Related bills - 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 - 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan. - 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California. - 119-sres-723: A resolution honoring the life of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, former United States Senator for the State of Idaho. - 119-sres-703: A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of May 3, 2026, through May 9, 2026, as "National Small Business Week" to celebrate the contrib… - 119-sres-585: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Campbell. ## Sources - [119-s-278 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/278) ## Related - [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071) - [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755) - [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739) - [119-sres-723: A resolution honoring the life of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, former United States…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-723) - [119-sres-703: A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of May 3, 2026,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-703) - [119-sres-585: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Camp…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-585) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-278 (as of 2026-09-10).