No Social Media at School Act
No Social Media at School Act would require social media companies to use geofencing to block access to their platforms on K-12 education campuses during the regular school day, with limited exceptions for emergency weather and safety alerts. The goal is to reduce on-campus distraction and use of social media in schools by physically restricting access within the campus boundary. The bill would let the Federal Trade Commission enforce the rule as an unfair or deceptive practice and would authorize state attorneys general to bring civil actions on behalf of their residents, including injunctive relief, damages, and other remedies. It also includes privacy protections intended to prevent new data collection or age-verification requirements beyond what the companies already do. The bill defines key terms (geofencing, social media platform, K-12, local educational agency) and lists which platforms are covered or exempt. Platforms that primarily involve user-generated content, advertising revenue, and targeting consumers would generally be covered, while certain other services (email, videoconferencing, cloud storage, news content, etc.) are carved out. The act contemplates a broad enforcement framework with federal and state involvement, including notices to the FTC and potential intervention by the FTC in state actions.
Key Points
- 1A social media company must block access to its platform on a K-12 campus during the local school day using geofencing, with exceptions only for weather alerts, amber alerts, and other emergency/public safety notifications.
- 2Privacy protections avoid requiring new data collection about users’ ages or the implementation of age gating/verification beyond what the company already does.
- 3Enforcement is through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as an unfair or deceptive practice, with the FTC empowered to enforce the law and retain its general authority under the FTC Act.
- 4State Attorneys General may bring civil actions on behalf of residents to enjoin violations, enforce compliance, seek damages or restitution, and obtain other relief; the FTC may intervene in these actions.
- 5Definitions and scope: the act defines “geofencing,” “K-12 education,” “local educational agency,” “social media company,” and “social media platform,” and includes a detailed list of platform types that are covered or excluded (e.g., email services, teleconferencing, cloud storage, certain educational or school-sanctioned systems).