A Bill to Ban Recommendation Algorithms for Users Under 18
Prohibits algorithmic content recommendation for minors. Feeds must be chronological from followed accounts.
Covered platforms shall not deploy any engagement-optimized recommendation system on accounts of users under 18.
Feeds shall be presented in reverse chronological order from followed accounts only.
FTC enforcement. Civil penalty up to $40,000 per minor user per violating day.
$80 million to the FTC for FY26 to establish enforcement and audit capacity.
Mechanical parts, sourced & timed
Use this as your pre-round checklist. Memorize the source citation. Time yourself to the delivery target.
- Bill / Number
- S. 1199 — A Bill to Ban Recommendation Algorithms for Users Under 18
- Funding source
- $80M FTC appropriation for FY26.
- Timeline
- Compliance at next FTC rulemaking cycle.
- Plausible — but expect 18+ months of First Amendment litigation (NetChoice v. Paxton).
- Enforcing agency
- Federal Trade Commission.
- Yes for unfair/deceptive practices; First Amendment scope is contested.
- Penalty for non-compliance
- Up to $40,000 per minor user per violating day.
- Source citation
- APA Health Advisory (2023), 'Social Media Use in Adolescence' — apa.org.
- Delivery time (read aloud)
- 1:10 (70s)
NetChoice v. Bonta (2024) suggests algorithmic mandates violate the First Amendment.
Bonta enjoined a *design-code* law; this bill targets a narrower category — engagement-optimization on under-18 accounts — and offers a least-restrictive alternative (chronological feeds). APA (2023) documented direct causal evidence on adolescent depression and algorithmic exposure.