H.R. 6290: Safe Social Media Act

This bill, titled the Safe Social Media Act, requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a study on the use of social media platforms by individuals under the age of 17. The main objectives of the study include:

Study Focus Areas

• Personal Information Collection: Investigating what personal information social media platforms collect from users under 17.
• Algorithmic Use: Understanding how this personal information is utilized by social media algorithms.
• Targeted Advertising: Examining how personal data is employed in targeted advertising campaigns aimed at these users.
• Usage Frequency: Analyzing how often these individuals use social media platforms on a daily basis.
• Age Differences: Identifying usage patterns across various younger age ranges.
• Mental Health Effects: Investigating the potential mental health impacts associated with social media use among this demographic.
• Harmful and Beneficial Effects: Determining both potentially harmful effects and benefits of extended social media use for individuals under 17.

Reporting Requirements

The FTC is required to submit a report to Congress within three years of the bill's enactment, summarizing the findings of the study. The report should also include recommended policy changes based on the study's outcomes.

Exemptions

This section of the bill is exempt from the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, meaning that the FTC will not have to adhere to the usual paperwork and reporting guidelines that typically apply to federal agencies.

Definition of Social Media Platform

For the purposes of this bill, a social media platform is defined as:

• A public-facing website, internet application, or mobile internet application that serves the public.
• Primarily provides a forum for user-generated content, such as messages, videos, images, games, and audio files.

However, the definition explicitly excludes:

• Providers of broadband internet access services.
• Electronic mail services.

Related Information

The bill is sponsored by Mr. Bentz and co-sponsored by Ms. Schrier, and it is currently under consideration by the Committee on Energy and Commerce in the House of Representatives.

Relevant Companies

• FB - Facebook: As a major social media platform, Facebook would be directly impacted by any regulatory changes following the findings of this study.
• GOOGL - Alphabet (Google): The parent company of YouTube, which is a significant platform for videos and user-generated content, may face implications for how it collects and uses data from underage users.
• SNAP - Snap Inc.: This company, which operates Snapchat, attracts a younger audience and may need to adjust operations based on the study's findings.