Massachusetts House Set to Vote on Social Media Ban, School Phone Restrictions

The Massachusetts House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill that would ban social media use for children younger than 14 in the state and bar cellphone use for students during the school day.

House Speaker Ron Mariano and Ways and Means Committee Chair Aaron Michlewitz stated that the youth social media ban “would be among the most restrictive in the entire country.”

According to a CBS Boston WBZ-TV report, the legislation would require social media companies to ban minors younger than 14 from using their platforms. It would also require 14- and 15-year-olds to obtain their parents' permission before using social media. No restrictions on social media use would be in place for those 16 and older.

According to WBZ, the social media companies would be required to implement an age-verification system and to provide parents of minors with access to their child's social media usage data. If passed, the law would take effect on Oct. 1.

Under the cellphone ban proposal, the state would mandate that school districts issue a policy banning student phone use during the school day. Additionally, the bill would create a pilot program for 10 school districts to experiment with technology that would make “students' personal electronic devices inoperable on school grounds during the school day.”

A phone ban has already been enacted at Watertown High School. Watertown uses a “Doorman” program that prevents students from using their phones in classrooms except for phone calls.

The House vote is scheduled for Wednesday. The Massachusetts Senate voted last year to ban phones in schools, but the House hasn't reviewed the measure until this month.

After the House votes on the legislation on Wednesday, April 8, the House and Senate would have to reach an agreement on the proposals before sending a final version to Gov. Maura Healey.

Gray Milkowski, a spokesperson for Senate President Karen Spilka, commended the House for joining the Senate in supporting a cellphone ban in schools. He told The Boston Globe that the proposal is “an important step to support the mental health of our students and help them succeed academically.”