A new bill in the Georgia Senate aims to prevent kids under 14 from having accounts on major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The bill is sponsored by State Sen. Nikki Merritt (D-Grayson), who believes it will help address serious mental health issues that can arise when children use social media too early.
Merritt, who is a mother, explained that Senate Bill 165 would require social media companies to either stop allowing accounts for kids under 14 or remove existing accounts. If they fail to comply, they could face fines of $50,000 for each violation. “This puts responsibility on the social media companies,” Merritt said. “Social media can be very harmful, especially for younger users.”
Mental health experts agree that social media can negatively impact children’s mental well-being. Mallory Callans, a certified counselor in metro Atlanta, noted that many kids struggle with social media addiction, often spending too much time scrolling through TikTok or Instagram. “The social interaction they have online is not the same as real-life interaction,” she explained.
Callans, who works mostly with clients dealing with eating disorders, mentioned that social media can worsen existing mental health issues. “Kids often compare themselves to others, like their peers or influencers, which can be harmful,” she said. She finds that nearly all of her clients with eating disorders have unhealthy relationships with social media.
Last year, Georgia passed a law requiring social media companies to make a reasonable effort to block accounts for kids under 16, but there were no penalties for not following through. Merritt’s new bill aims to strengthen this law by including fines for non-compliance.
Merritt wants to protect kids from developing addictions or harmful behaviors before they fully understand the risks of social media. Experts warn that starting social media use at a young age can lead to future addictions, whether to social media itself or to other substances like alcohol or drugs. “Getting addicted to something at ages 12, 13, or 14 can set the stage for future problems,” Callans said.
