H.R. 5173

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require social media companies to use geofencing to block access to their social media platforms on K–12 education campuses, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · September 8, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Craig · Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce

Table of contents

• H.R. 5173
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Requirement to block access to social media on K–12 education campuses

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the No Social Media at School Act.

SEC. 2. Requirement to block access to social media on K–12 education campuses

• (a) Requirement
  • A social media company shall use geofencing to block access to their social media platform on a K–12 education campus during the regular school day (as determined by the local educational agency associated with such campus), except for any push notification that includes a weather alert, an amber alert, and other uses from emergency responders for public safety purposes.
• (b) Protections for privacy
  • Nothing in this section may be construed to require—
    • the affirmative collection of any personal data with respect to the age of users by a social media company that the company is not already collecting in the normal course of business; or
    • a social media company to implement an age gating or age verification functionality.
• (c) Enforcement
  • (1) Enforcement by Federal Trade Commission
    • (A) Unfair and deceptive acts or practices
      • A violation of this section shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (). 15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)
    • (B) Powers of the commission
      • (i) The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this section in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act () were incorporated into and made a part of this section. 15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.
      • (ii) Any person that violates this section shall be subject to the penalties, and entitled to the privileges and immunities, provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (). 15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.
    • (C) Authority preserved
      • Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other provision of law.
• (d) Enforcement by state attorneys general
  • (1) In general
    • (A) Civil actions
      • In any case in which the attorney general of a State has reason to believe that a covered platform has violated or is violating this section, the State, as parens patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in a district court of the United States or a State court of appropriate jurisdiction to—
        • (i) enjoin any practice that violates subsection (a);
        • (ii) enforce compliance with subsection (a);
        • (iii) on behalf of residents of the State, obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation, each of which shall be distributed in accordance with State law; or
        • (iv) obtain such other relief as the court may consider to be appropriate.
    • (B) Notice
      • (i) Before filing an action under subparagraph (A), the attorney general of the State involved shall provide to the Commission—
      • written notice of that action; and
      • a copy of the complaint for that action.
      • (ii) Exemption
        • Clause (i) shall not apply with respect to the filing of an action by an attorney general of a State under this paragraph if the attorney general of the State determines that it is not feasible to provide the notice described in that clause before the filing of the action.
        • In an action described in subclause (I), the attorney general of a State shall provide notice and a copy of the complaint to the Commission at the same time as the attorney general files the action.
  • (2) Intervention
    • (A) In general
      • On receiving notice under paragraph (1)(B), the Commission shall have the right to intervene in the action that is the subject of the notice.
    • (B) Effect of intervention
      • If the Commission intervenes in an action under paragraph (1), the Commission shall have the right—
        • (i) to remove the action to the appropriate United States district court;
        • (ii) to be heard with respect to any matter that arises in that action; and
        • (iii) to file a petition for appeal.
  • (3) Construction
    • For purposes of bringing any civil action under paragraph (1), nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an attorney general of a State from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general by the laws of that State to—
      • conduct investigations;
      • administer oaths or affirmations; or
      • compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary and other evidence.
  • (4) Actions by the commission
    • In any case in which an action is instituted by or on behalf of the Commission for violation of this section, no State may, during the pendency of that action, institute a separate action under paragraph (1) against any defendant named in the complaint in the action instituted by or on behalf of the Commission for that violation.
  • (5) Venue; service of process
    • (A) Venue
      • Any action brought under paragraph (1) may be brought in—
        • (i) the district court of the United States that meets applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of title 28, United States Code; or
        • (ii) a State court of competent jurisdiction.
    • (B) Service of process
      • In an action brought under paragraph (1) in a district court of the United States, process may be served wherever defendant—
        • (i) is an inhabitant; or
        • (ii) may be found.
• (e) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission.
    • The term geofencing means a virtual boundary maintained by a social media platform.
    • The term K–12 education means an elementary school or secondary school (as such terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ()). 20 U.S.C. 7801
    • The term has the meaning given such term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (). local educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801
    • The term — social media company