In an effort to protect the health and wellbeing of minors, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley recently introduced legislation that would bar social media companies from offering accounts to children under 16. This proposed MATURE Act seeks to verify the age of users by scanning government-issued ID and requires parents be able to sue social media platforms if they allow their underage child to create an account.

Hawley’s proposed legislation is a much-needed step towards protecting children against the inherent dangers of digital media. We know that children can suffer emotionally and psychologically from overuse or misuse of these platforms, which often monetize their personal information with little regard for their safety. Young people are particularly vulnerable, as they may not have the capacity or maturity to recognize when they are being manipulated or exploited. Research also suggests there may be links between excessive use of social media and increased risk for gender dysphoria, depression, anxiety, suicidality, eating disorders and attention deficit disorder in young people.

By passing this legislation, we can send a powerful message that companies should no longer be allowed to take advantage of our children’s health and privacy for the sake of profit. For the purpose of further understanding how social media affects young people’s mental health, Hawley also introduced a bill commissioning a report on the impact over 10 years old with an emphasis on gender dysphoria, depression, anxiety, suicidality, eating disorders and attention deficit disorder which will help us better understand how we can best protect our kids in an increasingly digital world.

It is time that we got serious about protecting our kids from potential harm posed by digital media usage. It is time that our laws reflect this commitment as well as provide resources to ensure their safety online. By banning social media accounts for minors through this legislation we can give parents more power to safeguard their children’s wellbeing both online and offline.