Federal Social Media Research Act

Bill: 118-s-410
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2023-02-14
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health

Congressional oversight

Government studies and investigations

Internet, web applications, social media

Mental health
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Federal Social Media Research Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides funding for a short-term study and a long-term study on the physical and mental health effects of using social media technologies on users who are under the age of 18. It also authorizes the Government Accountability Office to conduct the studies, including in partnership with any other federal agency.</p> <p>The bill specifies that the aim of the studies is to assess the relationship between patterns of social media use and suicide, anxiety, depression, and other medical conditions.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 410 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 regarding the effects of social media on users under age 18.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Social Media Research Act . 2. Short-term study (a) Study The Comptroller General of the United States, in partnership with any other Federal agency the Comptroller General may designate, shall study the impact of social media technologies on the mental and physical health of social media users under age 18, with particular attention to assessing current circumstances and expected trends. Such study shall aim to assess in particular any relationship between social media use patterns and the following medical conditions: (1) Suicidality. (2) Anxiety. (3) Depression. (4) Eating disorders. (5) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. (6) Gender dysphoria. (b) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress on the study required under subsection (a). (c) Appropriations Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Comptroller General, for fiscal year 2023, $1,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out the study described in this section. 3. Longitudinal study (a) Study The Comptroller General of the United States, in partnership with any other Federal agency the Comptroller General may designate, shall study the impact of social media technologies on the mental and physical health of a cohort of social media users initially drawn from the population of such users under age 18, with particular attention to the long-term effects of social media technology use on the health of such users. Such study shall aim to assess in particular any relationship between social media use patterns and the medical conditions listed in section 2(a). (b) Report Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress on the study required under subsection (a). (c) Appropriations Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Comptroller General, for fiscal year 2023, $20,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out the study described in this section.