U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, has scheduled a full committee hearing titled “Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth.” The hearing will take place on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 10:00 am EST in the Russell Senate Office Building.
The hearing will address concerns about children’s screen time, with recent data showing tweens average five hours per day on screens and teens over eight hours daily. The discussion will focus on how early and frequent use of digital devices may affect development and mental health. The session will also consider ways to help parents manage their children’s technology use at a time when schools are increasingly providing students with personal devices.
Senator Cruz recently reintroduced the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) alongside Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). This bipartisan legislation aims to protect young people from harmful effects of social media by setting a minimum age of 13 for platform access and restricting algorithms that target users under 17 with addictive content. KOSMA would also block taxpayer funds from supporting tools that allow classroom access to social media or other potentially harmful online content through federally funded school networks and devices. The bill passed out of committee on June 30, 2025.
Upon announcing the hearing, Sen. Cruz stated:
“Every parent I know is concerned about the time their kids spend online and what trash they may be exposed to: predators, self-harm videos, or mindless filth. Kids need time to be kids—to experience the real world, not disappear into a virtual one. That is why I joined with Sen. Schatz to reintroduce the bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act, a bill that forces Big Tech to take responsibility for its products, protects children from excessive screen time, and lets teachers teach without cell phone distractions. As Chairman of the Commerce Committee, I am confident we can heed the calls of parents everywhere by delivering this bill to President Trump's desk to help protect America’s youth.”
Witnesses scheduled for the hearing include Dr. Jean Twenge from San Diego State University; Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath from LME Global; and Ms. Emily Cherkin, an author and founder of The Screentime Consultant.
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee operates as a standing committee in the U.S. Senate responsible for oversight and policy development related to commerce, science, and transportation matters according to its official website. It includes senators from both parties who review legislation through hearings such as this one and advances policies in these areas. The committee's main office is located in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington D.C., where it holds sessions like this upcoming hearing to inform national policy decisions.
Reporters interested in attending should contact their respective media galleries for RSVP details.
