OFF LIMITS

Lawmakers Plot ‘Most Restrictive’ Social Media Ban in U.S.

The law also includes a ban on phone use in schools.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives is set to vote on April 8 on a bill dubbed the “most restrictive” social media ban in the country. If passed, starting October 1, anyone under 14 would be completely restricted from accessing social media, while 14- and 15-year-olds would require verifiable parental consent to do so. “The simple reality is that Massachusetts must do more to ensure that our laws keep pace with modern challenges,” House Speaker Ron Mariano and Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz said in a joint statement. The onus would be on social media companies to implement age-verification technology. A similar law was passed in Florida in 2024, but has faced a series of legal challenges for alleged First Amendment violations—an issue the Massachusetts legislators are not too concerned about. “We know that there could be some potential legal challenges. We think it’s the right thing to do, we think we’re on solid ground,” Michlewitz said. The bill is likely to be signed into law if passed in the House, as Governor Maura Healey has previously spoken positively about mandatory age verification on social media platforms.