Mass. House to vote on social media ban for kids, phones in schools

Key Points:

• The Massachusetts House is set to vote on legislation this week that would ban social media use for children under 14 and impose statewide restrictions on cellphone use in schools, aiming to protect students' mental health and improve classroom focus.
• The bill mandates social media platforms to block users under 14 entirely and require verifiable parental consent for users aged 14 and 15, with no consent needed starting at age 16; companies must also verify user ages and provide parents access to minors' data.
• The legislation proposes banning personal electronic device use during school hours and includes a pilot program in 10 districts to test technology that disables students' devices on school grounds during the day.
• Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Senate President Karen Spilka have expressed strong support for the bill, emphasizing the need to hold tech companies accountable and promote student mental health and academic success.
• Governor Maura Healey is expected to announce related measures soon, having previously indicated plans to propose strict social media regulations for users under 18.