On Wednesday night, April 8, 2026, the Massachusetts House passed a landmark bill that aims to create some of the nation’s strictest digital protections for minors, specifically banning social media for children under 14 and requiring parental consent for those aged 14 and 15. 

The legislation also mandates a statewide "bell-to-bell" cell phone ban in schools, pushing for distraction-free classrooms across the Commonwealth. As the bill heads back to the Senate, school technology leaders are preparing for a tight implementation window: by September 1, 2026, districts will likely need to file finalized device policies with the state, followed by a formal rollout of the social media age restrictions and account terminations on October 1, 2026.

A jury in Los Angeles has confirmed something every parent needs to hear. Meta and YouTube created features that they knew could harm children and they pushed them anyway.  

A young woman told the court that she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube when she was still a child. She described years of serious mental health struggles that followed. After hearing weeks of evidence, the jury ruled that both companies were negligent and failed to warn families about the risks built into their platforms. They have now been ordered to pay millions in damages.

This case matters because it shows that the design of these apps is not an accident. The constant recommendations, the nonstop videos, the alerts that pull kids back in again and again. A court has now said out loud that these choices can cause real harm. Parents deserve to know what their children are up against every time they open these apps.

<~~ 11/29/22 “This is yet another horrific reminder of the predators existing online who prey on our children. If you’ve already had a conversation with your kids on how to be safe online and on social media, have it again. If not, start it now to better protect them.”