Most teenagers today have grown up with social media, but Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) says that doesn't mean they should be navigating it alone. He's preparing legislation to change that.
Gallego is drafting a bill that would require anyone under 16 to obtain a parent or guardian's permission before creating an account on social media platforms.
Speaking with ABC15, he was upfront that the proposal isn't a ban; kids could still use Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and similar platforms, but only through a jointly managed account that a parent helps set up and oversees.
His argument is straightforward: social media companies, he says, are building their businesses on the backs of young users without regard for the consequences.
"These social media companies are basically mining our kids for information, for profit, and feeding them garbage, digital garbage," Gallego said. "It's starting to affect them; it affects grades, it affects mentality, it affects self-esteem."
Continued Argument
On social media, he put it even more directly: "Kids are on these apps for hours and it's showing. Grades slipping, confidence shot, and it's not an accident. These platforms mine kids for data and don't care what it costs their mental health. We have to protect our kids."
Under the proposal, companies would be required to offer parent-supervised account options and verify users' ages before allowing account creation.
Additionally, Gallego said verification doesn't have to be complicated; a name, a date, and a parent co-signing the account would be the baseline.
Furthermore, platforms that don't comply would face penalties, and the legislation would cover future platforms that gain widespread popularity, not just the ones that exist today.
The proposal fits into a broader global conversation, with countries including France and Australia already moving to restrict younger users' access to social media, and momentum building in the United States for similar action.
Phoenix-area parents who spoke with ABC15 were largely supportive, citing concerns about mental health, body image, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping what young people see online.
Gallego said the bill has not yet been formally introduced but believes it could draw support from both sides of the aisle.
