Lawmaker Describes Difficulty Passing Social Media Age Limits for Minors
A Republican representative said an amendment to bar social media use by those under 16 did not advance in Congress. Australia enacted an age restriction last December. Federal lobbying spending by technology companies exceeded $100 million last year.
marketwatch.comRep. Erin Houchin said an amendment to restrict social media access for minors under 16 failed to advance during congressional consideration of an online safety package. She described the effort during a meeting with reporters at Butterworth’s restaurant on Capitol Hill.
Houchin stated that the platform response to a parental inquiry about her daughter’s account was to direct the parent to “Pound sand. That statute dates to 1998. Houchin said children under 16 face heightened exposure to peer pressure, eating disorders, and suicide risk.
She noted that parents encounter limits when attempting to enforce controls once accounts are created.
Australia implemented a ban on social media for those under 18 in December. The measure covers platforms including Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Federal lobbying expenditures by technology companies surpassed $100 million last year. A separate report recorded roughly $180 million spent in Europe, supporting 890 full-time lobbyists in Brussels.
The U.S. government submitted comments opposing an age-verification proposal under review in Britain. The submission stated that technology solutions are preferable to broad restrictions. Houchin said she would continue outreach through various channels to build support for the measure.
