New Bill in the State Legislature Would Limit Access to Social Media for Teens

Monday, April 24th, 2023 -- 1:01 PM

(By Anya van Wagtendonk, Wisconsin Public Radio) Wisconsin's teenagers could see their access to social media limited under legislation being considered at the state Capitol.

According to Anya van Wagtendonk with Wisconsin Public Radio, Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay, says he'll sponsor a bill that would give parents full control over their kids' social media accounts and impose a curfew for social media users under 18.

He says it's an effort to address mental health concerns stemming from overuse of popular platforms like Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, and to keep children safe from bullying, harassment and even trafficking.

"We need to start taking a first step at ensuring our children are safe on the social media platforms. Right now, they're not," Steffen said during an appearance on Wisconsin Public Radio's Central Time. "It is the wild, wild electronic West."

Steffen has yet to formally introduce the legislation. He said he'll first solicit insight from parents, teachers and mental health professionals. The legislation will be modeled on a first-of-its-kind law signed last month in Utah, according to Steffen.

That law is set to take effect on March of next year, but is expected to face legal challenges. Opponents of such legislation say it can hamper social development and creativity. And some argue that it's up to parents to monitor youth exposure to online platforms.

It's also not clear that social media use contributes to young people's emotional struggles, said Heather Kerkorian, who researches the effects of media on children's development and family interactions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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