Massachusetts Senate passes bill targeting addictive social media features for kids

The Massachusetts Senate has overwhelmingly approved legislation designed to curb the use of addictive design elements on social media platforms by minor users. By a 38-2 vote, lawmakers passed S.3164, which requires companies to disable features like infinite scroll and autoplay by default for those under 18. This legislative move signals a shift in regulatory strategy, focusing on platform architecture and algorithmic engagement rather than outright age-based bans or mandatory identity verification.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem, targets specific technological functions that lawmakers argue contribute to compulsive scrolling and mental health issues among youth. Under the bill, platforms would be required to turn off autoplay, infinite scroll, and algorithmic recommendations from accounts users do not follow for all minor users. Additionally, the bill mandates a notification blackout between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to ensure adequate sleep, and requires platforms to provide usage reminders to young users after extended periods of engagement. Users would also gain the ability to prioritize or deprioritize specific types of content within their feeds.

To address privacy and constitutional concerns, the Senate bill adopts a tiered approach to age verification rather than a universal mandate. Users can choose to skip age verification, but doing so means they will continue using the platform with addictive features disabled by default; only those who verify they are 18 or older can access the full suite of engagement tools. This structure is intended to preserve First Amendment rights while protecting children from design choices that encourage compulsive use. Furthermore, the bill expands privacy protections by limiting who can message minors and prohibiting the sharing of their location data, while requiring social media companies to file annual reports with the Attorney General’s office detailing how they target young audiences.

This legislative action comes amid heightened legal pressure on the social media industry within the state. Just prior to the vote, the City of Boston and Boston Public Schools filed a lawsuit against major tech firms including Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, alleging their platforms were deliberately designed with addictive features that have fueled a youth mental health crisis. Supporters like Senator Julian Cyr argue that the bill aims to return platforms to their original purpose as social networks rather than engagement traps that isolate users. The legislation, which received support from 95% of the Senate body, now moves to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for further consideration.