Kids Off Social Media Act

Overview

HR 7433, the Kids Off Social Media Act, introduced February 9, 2026, would impose federal rules to restrict under-13 access to social media, limit personalized recommendation systems for users under 17, and impose certain school-related safeguards related to social media use. The bill is part of a broader package that also includes an Eyes on the Board Act of 2026, which expands federal and school responsibilities around internet safety.

Purpose and intent

• Prohibit children under 13 from creating or maintaining accounts on social media platforms.
• Prohibit the use of personalized recommendation systems on users who are under 17, with narrow exceptions.
• Limit the use of social media in schools by tying federal funding and policy requirements to compliance with internet safety measures.

Key provisions and changes

• Title I: Kids Off Social Media Act

  • Definitions:
  • Personalized recommendation system: automated systems that rank or promote content based on personal data.
  • Child: under 13; Teen: over 12 and under 17.
  • Social media platform: narrowly defined; excludes many non-user-generated, non-advertising, or education-focused services.
  • Prohibitions and requirements:
  • No child under 13 may create or maintain a social media account if the platform knows the user is a child.
  • Platforms must terminate existing accounts of users known to be children.
  • Deletion of children’s personal data upon account termination, with a 90-day window for the terminated user to request data in readable, portable format (when feasible).
  • Prohibition on personalized recommendations:
  • Platforms may not use a child’s or teen’s personal data to tailor content.
  • Exceptions allow limited data use (device type, language, location, age category, and that the user is a child/teen) for certain content delivery.
  • Subsection includes safeguards allowing search results from deliberate user input and measures to block illegal content, spam, and enhance security without relying on age-verification.
  • Enforcement:
  • FTC enforcement, with authorities parallel to unfair/deceptive acts or practices.
  • State Attorney General enforcement possible; allows private right of action by states against platforms.
  • Procedures for venue, service, and interagency coordination.
  • Relationship to other laws:
  • Preemption limited to conflicts; permits stronger state protections; preserves existing privacy and education privacy laws.
  • Effective date: 1 year after enactment.

• Title II: Eyes on the Board Act of 2026

  • Updates to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) to include social media platforms in school broadband protection rules.
  • Requires schools to certify compliance with internet safety measures, including technology protection (filters) and policies preventing student access to social media on supported networks and devices.
  • Establishes a public database of adopted internet safety policies and outlines implementation timing, review, and potential waivers for procurement or regulatory constraints.
  • FCC/FTC coordination on implementation and enforcement; provides funding-related conditions for schools using discounts under federal programs.

• Title III: Severability

Who is affected

• Individual users: children under 13 and teens under 17 would face restrictions on access and personalized content.
• Social media platforms: would need to modify or disable under-13 accounts, adjust data practices, and implement compliance programs.
• Schools and local educational agencies: must certify internet safety policies and may face conditions on federal funding tied to 254(h).
• States: can pursue enforcement actions or collaborate with the FTC to address violations.

Timeline and procedural aspects

• Effective date for Title I: one year after enactment.
• Title II provisions include phased certification timing tied to funding years under the ESEA/254(h) framework, with initial deadlines within 120 days for first-year compliance and ongoing annual certifications.

This summary highlights the bill’s core aims, major requirements, affected parties, and key timing.