Congress orders FTC to study social media's impact on teen mental health
H.R. 6290 — Safe Social Media Act · Filed by Cliff Bentz (R-OR) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Nov 25, 2025 · Markup held
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What it does
This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission, working with the Department of Health and Human Services, to study how social media platforms collect and use personal information from teenagers under 17, including data collection practices, algorithmic use, targeted advertising, usage frequency, mental health effects, and potential harms or benefits. The FTC must report findings and policy recommendations to Congress within 3 years.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a directive to conduct a study and report findings. It creates no new regulatory authority, no restrictions, and no direct financial flows—only a fact-gathering obligation with a 3-year deadline.
What the text implies
- Study findings may form the evidentiary basis for future restrictive legislation on social media platforms, data collection, or algorithmic targeting of minors—the bill itself does not restrict, but it creates a pathway for Congress to do so.
- Exemption from Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. § 3501 et seq.) allows FTC to conduct the study without the usual notice-and-comment burden, accelerating the timeline but reducing public input into study design.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill creates a fact-finding mechanism with no direct restrictions on citizens' rights or access. It mandates transparency about how platforms collect and use minors' data and potential mental health harms, providing Congress and the public with evidence needed to make informed policy decisions.