Michigan Governor Whitmer Calls for Federal Action on Social Media as Kids Over Clicks Bill Moves to Senate Floor

Governor Urges Federal Legislation After Tech Companies Profit From Children's Addiction

LANSING — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called for stronger federal action to protect children from addictive practices by social media companies while joining youth advocates at a summit focused on tech accountability and online safety.

The Democratic governor took part in a summit Tuesday of groups seeking to hold internet companies accountable for what they describe as harms caused by businesses that put their interests ahead of protecting vulnerable users.

"We are officially in a new era," said Windsor Western, a co-founder of the activist group Her Campus Media. "Last month's verdicts against Meta and YouTube proved what everyone in this room already knew — that infinite scroll is not an accident. They did it on purpose. It was an engineering choice to keep us all addicted."

Meta and YouTube could appeal jury verdicts in New Mexico and Los Angeles that held social media companies liable for using online addiction to meet growth targets.

State-Level Actions Already in Place

Michigan has passed laws to limit screens in classrooms, ban holding devices while driving, and punish using AI to create graphic images of people without their consent.

But Whitmer said online bullying and tech industry practices to keep children online don't stop at state borders.

"So, we've taken the action that we can at the state level, but we need to do a hell of a lot more," she said. "We'll do what we can. So long as I'm governor, we'll make sure to do that, but, I think, ultimately, I think we are going to need federal legislation on this front."

Bills Awaiting Senate Action

There are bills awaiting action in the Michigan Senate that would require social media companies to take steps to protect minors from harmful business practices that have been linked in some instances to depression and suicide risk.

The "Kids Over Clicks" package, in the bills' current forms, looks to ban what Senate Bill 757 would define as "addictive online feeds" for Michigan minors without parental consent.

The bills would also require that covered online service providers set default privacy settings for minors to the highest level and also bar minors from using certain chatbot features.

Senate Bill 760, sponsored by State Senator Dayna Polehanki of Livonia, would seek to regulate chatbot features for minors.

"[Artificial intelligence companion chatbot] systems are being deployed at scale, marketed as friendly, supportive and conversational," Polehanki said. "Yet, they're being released without any meaningful safeguards for minors."

Hearing Testimony Highlights Urgency

In March, Charay Gadd brought her story to the Michigan State Capitol, hoping lawmakers would listen as they considered new bills aimed at cracking down on online addiction.

Gadd said her daughter London's life changed forever that summer in 2024.

"We had rules, we had boundaries," Gadd said. "I took her phone at night. I was present."

"And still," she said, "the addictive algorithm found her."

State Senator Darrin Camilleri of Trenton, speaking during the March 4 hearing, said, "We, together, on a bipartisan basis, limited cell phone usage in our schools. We're now asking today to help go another step in protecting our kids from using some of this harmful technology."

Industry Pushback

When it comes to addictive practices, the topic has been put in the national spotlight in recent weeks with a jury verdict in California in late March finding tech giants Meta and YouTube liable in a case alleging addictive practices.

But the first drafts of Michigan's bills came with pushback during the March 4 hearing.

"You need only open any of, any of the apps that any of my members provide, or their products themselves, to see all of the different tools that parents and kids are provided for use of their products," said Bartlett Cleland, general counsel for NetChoice.

NetChoice is an association whose members include entities like Google, TikTok, Meta, YouTube and Amazon.

Cleland argued some of the package would be unconstitutional and, in turn, expose taxpayers to the cost of litigation in defense of the bills.

"Turns out corporations also have a right to expression, just as kids have a right to hearing and being able to engage in free speech within bounds," Cleland told committee members.

Concerns About Enforcement

Concern also arose over how kids could potentially get around the measures.

"I wonder if this should be federal policy, if we should look at solutions that way, because it seems like anytime we have people with addictions or the kids that have a strong pension for finding ways around the mouse trap — whether it's just putting in a wrong date so that your date matches up with what the criteria asked for — it isn't quite enough," said State Senator Mark Huizenga of Walker.

"These kids look for, then, proxy servers and other ways to then work their way around it," Huizenga said.

"Are we really solving the problems with what we're talking about in these bills, or do we need to go deeper, or what really is the solution?" Huizenga asked.

Defense of the Measures

"I think of this as one of the many layers to protect our kids, you know," answered Dr. Elizabeth Hill, a pediatrician testifying in support of the package. "I think about, you know, working small, working from one spot, and working our way outward."

Whitmer's Summit Remarks

During the summit, Whitmer criticized major tech companies for the role they play in shaping young users' online experiences.

"The companies that are supposed to keep us safe have profited at our expense, deliberately keeping us scrolling and spiraling," Whitmer said.

She also said technology still has the potential to create positive spaces.

"Toxic algorithms are no match for positivity and decency. And the technology that has divided us also has the potential to bring us together and build community," Whitmer said.

The summit builds on momentum from the recent Senate committee passage of the Kids Over Clicks package, which now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration.

The event brought together youth advocates, content creators and state leadership to address concerns over how social media impacts young people. Michigan State University student and entrepreneur Alina Morse, founder of Zolli Candy, said creators often feel pressure from the algorithms that determine what content is seen.

"It's the algorithm. It's not always the audience. It's not always what you're putting out there. It's not always the influencer's fault," Morse said.

The committee voted in late March to move the bills forward, with several being given amendments compared to their initial drafts. While the Senate is out of session until next week, the bills now sit before the full upper chamber for consideration.