What This Bill Does
This bill directs the federal government to study how social media affects young people under age 18. It requires two separate studies: one quick study completed within one year and one long-term study that follows the same group of young people over 10 years. Both studies will look at whether social media use connects to specific health problems.
Who It Affects
The Comptroller General of the United States (the head of the Government Accountability Office, which audits federal spending) and any other federal agencies the Comptroller General chooses to work with will conduct these studies. Young people under age 18 who use social media are the subjects being studied.
Key Provisions
- The Comptroller General must complete a short-term study examining how social media technologies affect the mental and physical health of users under age 18, with special focus on six medical conditions: suicidality, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and gender dysphoria. (Sec. 2(a))
- Congress must receive a report on the short-term study no later than one year after the bill becomes law. (Sec. 2(b))
- The Comptroller General must conduct a long-term study following a group of young social media users to examine lasting effects on their health over time, including the same six medical conditions. (Sec. 3(a))
- Congress must receive a report on the long-term study no later than 10 years after the bill becomes law. (Sec. 3(b))
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, the federal government will fund and conduct research on social media's effects on children and teenagers. Money will be set aside to pay for these studies rather than going to other government activities.
Important Definitions
None defined in bill text.
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 410
To authorize a Federal report and longitudinal study regarding the effects
of social media on users under age 18.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 14, 2023
Mr. HAWLEY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
A BILL
To authorize a Federal report and longitudinal study regard-
ing the effects of social media on users under age 18.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Social Media
4
Research Act’’.
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SEC. 2. SHORT-TERM STUDY.
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(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United
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States, in partnership with any other Federal agency the
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Comptroller General may designate, shall study the impact
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of social media technologies on the mental and physical
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•S 410 IS
health of social media users under age 18, with particular
1
attention to assessing current circumstances and expected
2
trends. Such study shall aim to assess in particular any
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relationship between social media use patterns and the fol-
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lowing medical conditions:
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(1) Suicidality.
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(2) Anxiety.
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(3) Depression.
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(4) Eating disorders.
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(5) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
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(6) Gender dysphoria.
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(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date
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of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
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submit a report to Congress on the study required under
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subsection (a).
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(c) APPROPRIATIONS.—Out of any money in the
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Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appro-
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priated to the Comptroller General, for fiscal year 2023,
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$1,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry
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out the study described in this section.
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SEC. 3. LONGITUDINAL STUDY.
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(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United
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States, in partnership with any other Federal agency the
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Comptroller General may designate, shall study the impact
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of social media technologies on the mental and physical
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health of a cohort of social media users initially drawn
1
from the population of such users under age 18, with par-
2
ticular attention to the long-term effects of social media
3
technology use on the health of such users. Such study
4
shall aim to assess in particular any relationship between
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social media use patterns and the medical conditions listed
6
in section 2(a).
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(b) REPORT.—Not later than 10 years after the date
8
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
9
submit a report to Congress on the study required under
10
subsection (a).
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(c) APPROPRIATIONS.—Out of any money in the
12
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appro-
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priated to the Comptroller General, for fiscal year 2023,
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$20,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry
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out the study described in this section.
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Æ
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