Michigan Lawmakers Advance 'Kids Over Clicks' Bills to Combat Online Addiction for Minors

State Senators Push Package That Would Limit Algorithm-Driven Feeds for Minors

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan state lawmakers are moving forward with a bipartisan bill package known as "Kids Over Clicks" that would crack down on online addictive practices targeting children and teens.

The legislation, introduced by Democratic state senators, seeks to ban what the bills define as "addictive online feeds" for Michigan minors without parental consent. The package would also require covered online service providers to set default privacy settings for minors to the highest level and bar minors from using certain chatbot features.

"Artificial intelligence companion chatbot systems are being deployed at scale, marketed as friendly, supportive and conversational," said State Senator Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia), sponsoring Senate Bill 760 that would seek to regulate chatbot features for minors. "Yet, they're being released without any meaningful safeguards for minors."

The bills have gained traction following testimony from grieving parents and advocates who testified before the Senate Finance, Insurance and Consumer Protection Committee on March 4.

Charay Gadd brought her story to the Michigan State Capitol in March after losing her daughter, London, to what she said was the addictive power of social media algorithms.

"We had rules, we had boundaries," Gadd said. "I took her phone at night. I was present." "And still, the addictive algorithm found her."

Bipartisan Support Despite Industry Pushback

The "Kids Over Clicks" package has found bipartisan support in the committee. State Senator Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) highlighted Michigan's existing efforts to limit cell phone usage in schools as a foundation for the new legislation.

"We're now asking today to help go another step in protecting our kids from using some of this harmful technology," Camilleri said.

However, the bills faced pushback during the March 4 hearing from industry representatives. Bartlett Cleland, appearing as general counsel for NetChoice — an association whose members include Google, TikTok, Meta, YouTube and Amazon — argued some provisions would be unconstitutional.

"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.

State Senator Mark Huizenga (R-Walker) also raised concerns about the practicality of the measures, questioning whether children could easily work around the restrictions.

"These kids look for 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?"

Medical Community Backs Protections

Dr. Elizabeth Hill, a pediatrician testifying in support of the package, defended the approach as a necessary layer of protection for children.

"I think of this as one of the many layers to protect our kids," Hill said. "I think about working small, working from one spot, and working our way outward."

Governor's Summit on Tech Accountability

The legislation has been bolstered by Governor Gretchen Whitmer's own advocacy on the issue. On April 7, the Democratic governor joined youth advocates, content creators and actress Lexi Underwood for a summit focused on tech accountability and online safety.

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 have kept us safe have profited at our expense, deliberately keeping us scrolling and spiraling," Whitmer said.

The summit also featured Alina Morse, an MSU student and entrepreneur who founded Zolli Candy, noting that content creators often feel pressure from 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 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.

Recent National Developments

The topic has gained national attention following a jury verdict in California in late March that found tech giants Meta and YouTube liable in a case alleging addictive practices.

Michigan's bills, which have been amended since their initial drafts, now sit before the full Senate as the chamber prepares to return from its recess.