As statehouses ramp up for 2026, we’re seeing a familiar and concerning trend of lawmakers rushing to regulate the internet based on shockingly shaky science. From the California State Assembly to the Massachusetts and Minnesota legislatures, a wave of bills is crashing against the digital lives of young people, with proponents of these measures framing social media access as a "public health epid...
The strongest version of this narrative acknowledges legitimate concerns about youth mental health and the role of social media, while critiquing the rush to legislate based on incomplete or misleading science. The EFF and independent researchers rightly highlight the complexity of adolescent well-being, where social media is one factor among many—pandemic fallout, economic instability, and systemic violence also play significant roles. The reliance on Jonathan Haidt’s work, despite its populari...