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HB 715

Algorithmic Addiction Fund – Establishment

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sandy Rosenberg

Maryland bill establishes state fund for research and treatment programs addressing behavioral addiction caused by social media algorithms and platform design.

First Reading Appropriations and Economic Matters
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Bill Summary · HB 715

Legislative bill overview

HB 715 establishes a dedicated fund to support research, prevention, and treatment programs addressing behavioral addictions linked to algorithmic content delivery systems. The bill would allocate state resources to study how social media and digital platforms use algorithms to create habit-forming engagement patterns, and fund interventions for affected individuals.

Why is this important

Algorithmic design intentionally maximizes user engagement through psychological manipulation techniques, which research suggests contributes to anxiety, depression, and behavioral addiction—particularly among young people. Dedicated funding could address a public health gap by generating evidence about these mechanisms and developing evidence-based treatments, similar to how states fund addiction recovery for substance abuse.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and priorities: Critics may question whether state funds should subsidize treatment for voluntary technology use when budgets face constraints in other areas like traditional mental health services
  • Industry accountability vs. individual responsibility: Debate over whether the bill appropriately places responsibility on platforms or if it enables users to avoid personal responsibility for screen time choices
  • Defining "addiction": Disagreement about whether algorithmic engagement constitutes clinical addiction worthy of medical intervention or represents normal behavior requiring digital literacy education instead

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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