Lawmakers heard testimony on a bill Monday, recommended by state Attorney General William Tong, which seeks to restrict the use of certain algorithms by social media companies without parental consent.
The legislation would limit the content children under 18 can access on social media platforms, specifically restricting apps’ use of any algorithm that “recommends, selects or prioritizes” content for users based on their personal information. It would also restrict the hours during which social media platforms can send notifications to children, and the users who can view and respond to their posts — subject to parental approval.
In a press conference promoting the bill, H.B. 6857, Tong likened social media algorithms used by companies such as Meta, X and TikTok to “behavioral cocaine” and stressed a need to combat “addiction” among the state’s young people. “The machine learns what you want to see and what you like” he said, adding that on many apps that means more and more extreme content is served to users in order to keep them engaged for longer.
The measure has bipartisan support. Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, and Sen. James Maroney, D-Milford, were joined by Rep. David Rutigliano, R-Trumbull, behind the dais with Tong at Monday’s press conference supporting the bill. The three lawmakers lead the legislature’s General Law Committee, which held a public hearing on the bill Monday afternoon. Lemar and Maroney are co-chairs, and Rutigliano is a ranking member.
Maroney linked heightened social media use to a doubling in the symptoms of depression among youth. “We need to protect our children with the increased access they have to the online world,” Maroney said.
“This legislation rightly empowers parents, establishes reasonable usage limits, and ensures accountability for social media companies” said Rep. Rutigliano, adding that “it was a very smart” proposal.
Groups representing social media companies and technology sector advocates called the bill flawed and said placing limits on social media for children can cause other problems.
“Not only is the proposal legally questionable, but it also overlooks the crucial role algorithms play in safeguarding children online,” Amy Bos, director of state and federal affairs at NetChoice, a coalition that represents numerous social media platforms and supports unrestricted usage of the internet, said in an emailed comment. “Instead of pursuing this flawed approach, Connecticut should focus on more effective strategies, such as promoting digital literacy education and equipping parents with the tools and resources [to] guide their children’s online experiences.”
The Chamber of Progress, a technology policy group, said many children value algorithms and use tools in apps to control the content they see in their feeds. “We all want to make the online experience safe and secure for young people, but Connecticut could accidentally take the internet in the wrong direction with this bill,” Brianna January, government relations director for Chamber of Progress Northeast, said in an emailed statement. “Limiting minors’ access to social media can do more harm than good – especially for those who need online connection and resources the most.”
Robert Keder, a developmental-behavioral physician at Connecticut Children’s, said in written testimony that he strongly supports the bill. In his estimation, Keder said, the bill was crafted carefully and takes relevant research into account. “In studies, minors have indicated that design features like push notifications, algorithmic feed targeting, infinite scrolling, and autoplay are mechanisms that extend their time using social media,” he wrote. “They report that it makes them feel compelled to return to media and displace other things they intended to do.”
Efforts from Tong to regulate social media content available to Connecticut’s youth have been ongoing. In October 2024, Tong was part of a coalition of states that advocated for adding warning labels to platforms. Tong also sued Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, in October 2023, accusing the company of violating state and federal laws with unfair trade practices aimed at hooking customers, especially preteens, on social media.
The bill he has proposed would give more responsibility for a child’s social media usage to parents. The legislation states that parents would be able to remove the block on notifications from social media platforms between 12:00 and 6:00 a.m. if they saw fit. It would also allow them to be able to monitor their child’s usage time.
Tong’s proposal mirrors legislation already in place in states such as New York, Utah and California. Tong’s hope is that this will give children and teenagers across the state more freedom and flexibility from the content they absorb on their devices.
At Monday’s press conference, Tong also expressed a level of concern around the close ties between social media companies and the Trump administration. He said he believes this could slow necessary safeguarding and access changes on social media platforms.
