Massachusetts House Passes Bill to Protect Children from Social Media, Prohibit Cell Phones in Schools

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BOSTON – The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill requiring social media companies to implement age verification systems that prohibit users under the age of 14 and require parental consent from prospective users aged 14 and 15. Additionally, the bill will protect students from distracting technology during the school day by prohibiting the use of cell phones from school arrival through dismissal. The bill will also require districts to educate students in age-appropriate ways about the responsible use of social media, including potential harms to emotional and mental health. 

“This bill will protect children from harmful content and addictive algorithms, and ensure that our students are able to focus in the classroom without the distraction from cell phones,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I would like to thank Chairman Michlewitz, Leader Peisch and Chairman Gordon for all their work on this bill, and all my House colleagues for recognizing the importance of ensuring that our kids are safe and able to succeed in the classroom.” 

“More and more studies have shown that cell phones in schools distract students from learning and discourage the in-person socialization critical to their development,” said Representative Tackey Chan (D-Quincy). “This legislation charges the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with creating clear and consistent guidance for our school districts on how best to limit students’ cell phone usage from bell-to-bell.”  

“A vast majority of superintendents urged us to take the lead in restricting cell phone use from bell-to-bell in our schools,” said Representative Kenneth Gordon (D-Bedford), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “This legislation will help ensure students stay focused in the classroom, are protected from bullying and other forms of distraction, while also encouraging them to engage with one another and be present during non-instructional time. Beyond limiting cell phone use, the bill takes important steps to protect children from the harmful effects of social media on their health and well-being. I’m grateful to Speaker Mariano for prioritizing this critical issue.” 

“As legislators, protecting our children while ensuring they can succeed in the classroom is one of our most important responsibilities,” explained Representative Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy), Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “This legislation takes meaningful steps to shield young people from the harmful effects of social media while creating a learning environment free from unnecessary distracts, supporting student achievement and academic success.” 

The bill passed includes the following policies:  

Social Media Ban for Children 

  • Minors under the age of 14 are prohibited from using social media platforms. Platforms must terminate underage users and delete associated personal information, effective October 1, 2026. 

  • Social media companies are required to implement an age verification system based on the best technology available to reasonably and accurately identify a current or prospective user’s age. 

  • Social media platforms must acquire verifiable parental consent for 14- and 15-year-old users of their platforms 

  • Platforms must publicly post information related to the number of users processed through the age verification system, including breakdowns on the number of users denied access because of age requirements and the number of users granted access through verified parental consent. Platforms found to be in violation of these requirements will be subject to civil fines.  

  • Social media platforms may not share information about a minor’s LGBTQ+ status or other characteristics protected under state law.  

  • The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), and the Department of Public Health (DPH) will provide guidance to districts on effective instruction on social media use. The AGO must also promulgate regulations for online protections, annually review the definition of “social media platform,” and maintain a public platform for reporting potential violations.  

Requirements for School Districts 

  • School districts must implement a policy prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during the school day as determined by the school committee. This policy must by filed with DESE annually, no later than September 1st. This prohibition should be crafted by the school committee and can be put into effect by way of: 

  • Secure storage of personal electronic devices 

  • The use of technology that renders personal electronic devices inoperable 

  • Other methods, which will require the approval of DESE 

  • Districts must make accommodations and exceptions as necessary, including for students with IEPs or disabilities that require the use of personal electronic devices, documented medical needs, and language access and translation needs. Districts must also ensure that parents still have the ability to contact their children during the school day and vice versa. 

Requirements for DESE 

  • DESE must provide guidance, recommendations, and a model policy to help districts develop and implement effective strategies to prohibit phone usage. The bill also imposes reporting requirements on the implementation of device policies and the effects of social media education. 

  • DESE must also develop discipline safeguards to ensure that expulsion/suspension can't be imposed solely for violating device policies. 

Pilot Program  

  • DESE must establish a pilot program for 10 school districts that implements technological means for rendering a personal electronic device inoperable on school grounds during the school day.  

  • DESE may select one or more bidders to provide such technology. In making such selection, DESE must consider the technology’s compliance with state and federal privacy laws, optional access to applications not used for communication, the ability to allow parents and students to communicate with each other, and the ability to communicate between students and emergency services (911). 

  • The pilot must include privacy safeguards, including that providers can't collect data for advertising or profiling. 

The bill passed the House of Representatives 129-25. Having passed the Senate already, the bill now goes back to the Senate for further consideration.