Mass. is moving to restrict underage social media use, phones in schools

Massachusetts leaders are advancing efforts to limit young people's exposure to technology, with a school phone ban inching toward approval and new social media restrictions in the works.

Why it matters: It probably won't happen this year, but the 2027 school year could be a lot different for students used to being glued to their phones at all hours.

The big picture: Gov. Maura Healey announced legislation to curb social media use at her State of the Commonwealth address last week. Details are being worked out, but Healey's targeting platforms that profit from minors.

• She's insisting on age verification systems and parental consent requirements when signing up for social media apps and sites.
• The rules could disable addictive features like autoplay and continuous scrolling during school hours and evenings.
• Healey is proposing steep fines for companies that violate the restrictions.

By the numbers: Surveys show 72% of high school teachers consider cell phones a major classroom problem, and research links phone use to diminished learning and socialization.

What they're saying: "It's just more incontrovertible research that shows that cell phone and social media, of course, really are detrimental to students' mental health and their capacity to learn in schools," Massachusetts Teachers Association president Max Page told Axios.

Between the lines: Healey's social media initiative fills a gap created when the Senate removed similar provisions to ensure passage of its own legislation banning cell phones in schools.

Yes, but: Speedy Senate passage doesn't count for much on Beacon Hill, where the House of Representatives usually becomes the final arbitrator of what becomes law.

• The Senate's ban bill, passed in July, has been languishing in the House without a vote ever since.

• But with Healey now adding to the charge, House leaders may have more motivation to craft their own version of a social media and phone ban bill.

Zoom in: Attorney General Andrea Campbell originally combined both approaches in early 2025 legislation before the Senate Education Committee stripped social media regulations.

The Senate's final bill requires all public schools to adopt "bell-to-bell" phone-free policies.

• Districts would determine specific storage methods, like locking pouches or secure lockers.
• Exceptions would be built in for students with medical needs and disabilities, and for emergencies.

What's next: The House would need to act on the phone ban bill while Healey files her social media legislation.

• Senate President Karen Spilka supports both initiatives.
• House Speaker Ron Mariano has expressed concerns about parental communication if phones are locked up and hasn't yet weighed in on the social media restrictions.