November 25, 2025
Mr. Bentz (for himself and Ms. Schrier) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To require the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a study regarding social media use by teenagers.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Safe Social Media Act
.
Sec. 2. Report by FTC on social media use by teenagers
(a) In general
The Federal Trade Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use), shall—
(1)
conduct a study on social media platform use among individuals younger than age 17, including—
(A)
what personal information is collected by social media platforms regarding such individuals;
(B)
how such personal information is used by the algorithms of the social media platforms;
(C)
how such personal information is used with respect to targeted advertising;
(D)
how often such individuals use social media platforms daily;
(E)
differences in use of social media platforms related to the age ranges of such individuals;
(F)
mental health effects on such individuals linked to the use of social media platforms; and
(G)
potential harmful effects and benefits for such individuals from extended social media platform use; and
(2)
not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to Congress a report on the findings of the study under paragraph (1), including any recommended policy changes based on such findings.
(b) Exemption
Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act
) shall not apply to this section.
Sec. 3. Definition of social media platform
(a) In general
In this Act, the term social media platform means a public-facing website, internet application, or mobile internet application, including a social network or video sharing service that—
(1)
serves the public; and
(2)
primarily provides a forum for user-generated content, including messages, videos, images, games, and audio files.
(b) Exclusions
In this Act, the term social media platform
does not include the following:
(1)
A provider of broadband internet access service (as described in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)).
(2)
Electronic mail.