Oppose Social Media Bans and Mandatory Age Verification Legislation

I urge you to oppose all legislation that would ban young people from social media or mandate mandatory age verification systems. These policies are fundamentally flawed for several critical reasons: Privacy and Security Risks: Forced age verification requires collecting government IDs, face scans, and sensitive personal data from all users, creating massive honeypot databases vulnerable to identity theft and permanent surveillance. This exposes everyone—not just youth—to greater security threats. Disproportionate Harm: Age verification systems discriminate against people of color, people with disabilities, and transgender individuals whose IDs may not match their appearance. Parental consent requirements create access barriers for low-income, non-traditional, and immigrant families, while cutting off lifelines for LGBTQ+ youth, foster children, and those in unsupportive homes who rely on online community for support. Unconstitutional Overreach: Blanket social media bans violate First Amendment rights to speech and information access for users of all ages. They destroy online anonymity—a cornerstone of free expression that protects journalists, activists, and anyone seeking private information. Poor Evidence: These laws rely on disputed science about adolescent brain development, ignoring research showing moderate internet use benefits teen development, particularly for marginalized youth. Instead of punitive bans, please support digital literacy education and voluntary parental tools that preserve choice without mass surveillance. Thank you for your consideration.