U.S. Senator Katie Britt is continuing her efforts to advocate for and provide the “proper guardrails” for adolescents using social media. In a panel discussion on Wednesday hosted by Semafor, the lawmaker spoke about the need to protect younger users from the threats created through unchecked social media usage.
Britt (R-Montgomery), joined by fellow U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), explained the bipartisan approach to dealing with the issue that has gone on unabated for over two decades
“We think about our children, and knowing what we know now versus what we did when we passed the first piece of online legislation, which, by the way, Myspace wasn’t even a thing the last time we passed legislation on this,” said Britt. “I think we came to the table not as Democrats or Republicans, but truly as concerned parents that are looking at the data and then are also looking at what’s happening within our own homes or with our friends and realize the struggle that’s happening with young people.”
As a mom, I know how dangerous social media can be for our kids—the statistics are staggering. @SenFettermanPA and I believe that, like cigarettes and alcohol, social media needs warning labels that link to real help for our children and families. pic.twitter.com/8Pq5wu5XlS
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) July 16, 2025
Britt relayed statistics, painting a dire picture of the youth mental health crisis currently taking place across the country.
“The CDC said that one in three high school young women last year actually considered death by suicide. 25% of high school young women made a plan to take their own life. 13% of young women actually attempted death by suicide. When you add in young men, it’s 9% of our high schoolers in this nation attempted death by suicide last year.”
The senator emphasized the need to take action on the issue, calling it a responsibility of lawmakers in both parties.
“Whether it’s depression, whether it is being sucked into algorithms, whether or not it’s sextortion. The list goes on and on,” Britt continued. “I think John and I believe that doing nothing is not an option, that our kids deserve better. Putting up the proper guardrails, the proper safety nets to allow them to continue to explore. But to do so in a more responsible manner is incumbent on us as legislators.”
Studies have shown a strong relationship between social media use and poor mental health, especially among children. From 2019 to 2021, overall screen use among teens and tweens (ages 8 to 12) increased by 17 percent, with tweens using screens for five hours and 33 minutes per day and teens using screens for eight hours and 39 minutes.
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
