Summary
March 5, 2025
The Honorable Senator Brian Schatz
722 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Re: Support for S.278, Kids Off Social Media Act
Dear Senator Schatz,
On behalf of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, I am writing in support of Senate Bill 278 to prohibit users under the age of 13 from accessing social media platforms, the use of personalized algorithms designed to keep users on platforms for longer for those under 17, and limit the use of social media in schools.
S.278 strengthens current laws on social media access by minors, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and creates new restrictions on recommendation algorithms. S.278 also expands mandatory school restrictions on social media platforms and content filtering. Currently, social media companies are not required to verify ages and regulate algorithms for users under 17. Under S.278, social media companies/platforms must delete the accounts and personal data of users found to be under the age of 13 and cannot use algorithms that recommend content based on personal data for users under the age of 17.
The County of Marin remains committed to ensuring the safety of our community’s children in using social media. S.278 aligns with our County’s 2025 Legislative Platform, which supports efforts for healthier social media usage among adolescents. With the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, we know that social media use is strongly adversely linked with the well-being of our youth. Social media use is associated with increased levels of depression, anxiety, sleep disruptions and can interfere with brain development growth.
For this reason, the Marin County Board of Supervisors strongly supports the passage of S.278, Kids Off Social Media Act in the Senate.
Sincerely,
Mary Sackett, President
Marin County Board of Supervisors
CC: Marin County Board of Supervisors
Senator Adam Schiff
Senator Alex Padilla
Congressman Jared Huffman
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