Safe Social Media Act

2/5/2024, 2:30 PM

Safe Social Media Act

This bill requires a study on the use of social media platforms among individuals under age 18. A social media platform is a public-facing website, internet application, or mobile internet application (e.g., social network, search engine, or email service) with at least 30 million active monthly users in the United States.

The Federal Trade Commission must coordinate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to carry out the study, and the study must address matters such as frequency of usage, mental health effects linked to such usage, and policy recommendations.

The Safe Social Media Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 4826, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress aimed at regulating social media platforms to protect users from harmful content and misinformation. The bill seeks to hold social media companies accountable for the content posted on their platforms and to ensure the safety and well-being of users, particularly children and teenagers.

Key provisions of the Safe Social Media Act include requiring social media companies to implement measures to prevent the spread of harmful content, such as misinformation, hate speech, and cyberbullying. The bill also mandates that platforms provide users with tools to report and block harmful content, as well as mechanisms for appealing content moderation decisions.

Additionally, the Safe Social Media Act requires social media companies to disclose their content moderation policies and practices, as well as any algorithms used to recommend or promote content to users. This transparency is intended to increase accountability and trust in social media platforms. Overall, the Safe Social Media Act aims to create a safer and more responsible online environment for users, particularly vulnerable populations such as children and teenagers. By regulating social media companies and holding them accountable for the content on their platforms, the bill seeks to address the growing concerns surrounding the impact of social media on mental health, privacy, and democracy.
Congress
118

Number
HR - 4826

Introduced on
2023-07-24

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

7/24/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Safe Social Media Act

This bill requires a study on the use of social media platforms among individuals under age 18. A social media platform is a public-facing website, internet application, or mobile internet application (e.g., social network, search engine, or email service) with at least 30 million active monthly users in the United States.

The Federal Trade Commission must coordinate with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to carry out the study, and the study must address matters such as frequency of usage, mental health effects linked to such usage, and policy recommendations.

The Safe Social Media Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 4826, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress aimed at regulating social media platforms to protect users from harmful content and misinformation. The bill seeks to hold social media companies accountable for the content posted on their platforms and to ensure the safety and well-being of users, particularly children and teenagers.

Key provisions of the Safe Social Media Act include requiring social media companies to implement measures to prevent the spread of harmful content, such as misinformation, hate speech, and cyberbullying. The bill also mandates that platforms provide users with tools to report and block harmful content, as well as mechanisms for appealing content moderation decisions.

Additionally, the Safe Social Media Act requires social media companies to disclose their content moderation policies and practices, as well as any algorithms used to recommend or promote content to users. This transparency is intended to increase accountability and trust in social media platforms. Overall, the Safe Social Media Act aims to create a safer and more responsible online environment for users, particularly vulnerable populations such as children and teenagers. By regulating social media companies and holding them accountable for the content on their platforms, the bill seeks to address the growing concerns surrounding the impact of social media on mental health, privacy, and democracy.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo require the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a study regarding social media use by teenagers.

Policy Areas
Science, Technology, Communications

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary12/14/2023

Safe Social Media Act

This bill requires a study on the use of social media platforms among individuals under age 18. A social media platform is a public-facing website, internet application, or mobile internet application (e...


Latest Action7/28/2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.