Massachusetts House votes to ban social media for under-14s
Updated
Updated · Dorchester Reporter · May 7
Massachusetts House votes to ban social media for under-14s
10 articles · Updated · Dorchester Reporter · May 7
The measure also requires 14- and 15-year-olds to obtain parental consent on each individual platform.
Supporters say it addresses online harms and parental anxiety, but former Boston city councillor Annissa Essaibi George argues app-by-app verification is cumbersome, privacy-risky and easy for teenagers to evade.
She points instead to federal app-store age verification, citing Australia’s under-16 ban, where many children reportedly kept accounts and some shifted to less regulated platforms.
How do we protect children online without sacrificing the privacy and free speech of every adult user?
Is the answer blocking kids from social media, or is it redesigning the addictive platforms themselves?
Massachusetts Enacts Strict Social Media Bans for Under-14s and School Cellphone Restrictions by Fall 2026
Overview
In response to a growing youth mental health crisis linked to social media, Massachusetts passed a strict House bill in April 2026 banning social media use for children under 14 and requiring parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, alongside a statewide school cellphone ban starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Social media companies must implement age verification and disable addictive features by October 2026, while the Attorney General will develop enforcement regulations. Governor Healey proposes an alternative focusing on limiting harmful features rather than bans. The House and Senate bills now face reconciliation, with Massachusetts poised to set a national example in youth online safety regulation.