At a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing titled “Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth,” Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) discussed concerns about how increased screen time is affecting children and teenagers. The committee, which reviews legislation related to commerce, science, and transportation and includes members from both parties according to its official website, convened to address these issues as technology becomes more prevalent in education and daily life.
Senator Cruz highlighted that his committee would look into how parents can be better supported as schools provide personal devices to students. He also referenced bipartisan efforts with Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) through the reintroduction of the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA). This legislation aims to set a minimum age for social media use at 13, prevent platforms from using algorithms to target users under 17 with addictive content, and remove cell phones from classrooms. KOSMA passed out of committee with broad support in February 2025.
In his statement, Cruz said:
“It’s incredibly hard to be a kid right now. All the parents I know—myself included—are concerned about the time their kids spend glued to screens, watching and reading insidious content that puts their minds and bodies at risk.
“Parents are fighting a constant battle to keep their children safe in a rapidly evolving digital world. For instance, there’s been a stunning increase in exploitative AI-generated deepfake revenge porn and images of victims—often teenage girls. Thankfully, Congress rose to meet this challenge and passed my and Sen. Klobuchar’s bill, the Take It Down Act, which makes clear that if you create and spread these heinous images of anyone, you’ll face the full force of the law.
“But there’s clearly more work to do to protect children online. Given the prevalence of online devices, children are often introduced to screens at a young age and use them for a significant portion each day.
“Children ages 8 to 12 now use screens on average five and a half hours each day. For teens, it’s even higher at eight hours and 39 minutes. Put another way—over half the time a teenager is awake is spent staring at a screen!
Parents intuitively know that excessive use of internet-connected devices like smartphones and tablets poses significant physical and mental health risks to children. Even many kids know it’s a problem. Surveys routinely show large numbers of teenagers admit to spending way too much of each day on a smartphone.
“Kids need time to be kids—to experience the real world, not get lost in the virtual one. This ‘phone-based’ childhood—predominantly spent on social media—has been documented to lead to social awkwardness, reduced self-confidence, a more sedentary childhood, fragmented attention, disrupted learning, addiction, and social withdrawal.
“With the introduction of the smartphone, we’ve also seen a rise in teen mental health disorders, anxiety, and depression.
“In 2023, one out of five children had a mental or behavioral problem diagnosis. We’ve also seen increases in child and teen suicide rates.
“Something is very wrong. And I don’t believe it is merely a coincidence, as our witnesses will discuss today, that these harms are rising alongside the early and excessive use of screens.
“Sadly, parents face further challenges in monitoring and limiting their children’s screen time, in part because our education system—fueled by federal subsidies and incentives—has increasingly required the use of internet-connected devices in schools. Most students are now assigned laptops or tablets—often without guardrails or parental controls—in order to complete their schoolwork. There aren’t many parents who think it has become easier to help with schoolwork or cut down on screen time when schools send their kid home with a personal tablet.
“There’s a role for technology in the classroom, but we should discuss whether assigning personal devices to children is actually improving academic outcomes or doing more harm than good.
“During the Biden administration…not only did Congressional Democrats give billions of dollars…to buy personal internet devices for children…but…the Biden FCC sought…to install Wi-Fi hotspots off campus…including on school buses…and in students’ homes…
“I was proud that…the Senate passed my legislation…to repeal this program…and I hope House lawmakers pass it now…and send it…to…the President’s desk…
“Sen. Schatz…and I have also advanced…the Kids Off Social Media Act…which this committee passed overwhelmingly back in February…to help protect kids from social media—the predominant use of a smartphone…
“KOSMA meets parents where they’re at…it’s incredibly hard…to be…the ‘one parent’ who won’t let your kid have…a phone or social media account…
“So KOSMA says,…we’re going…to hold Big Tech accountable...Big Tech says no one under 13 can set up an account...KOSMA makes that...the law...
“KOSMA also gets cell phones out [of] the classroom...No school getting federal taxpayer dollars would allow kids [to] access social media in [the] classroom…I am hopeful we will send this bill [to]...the President's desk...
I want...[to thank]...the witnesses who are here with us today,...and I look forward...[to] this critical discussion about how we can protect children...and empower parents.”
The Senate Commerce Committee functions as one of several standing committees within Congress tasked with oversight over issues such as commerce policy development—including those relating directly or indirectly with youth online safety—as outlined by its official website. The committee regularly holds hearings like this one so lawmakers can gather testimony before advancing relevant policies.
