April 11, 2025 • 13 mins
In this episode of Pulse and Politics with Alana Sanders, we dive deep into the controversial Kids Off Social Media Act (S.278). Is this bill a necessary step to protect our children’s mental health, or is it a slippery slope toward government surveillance and censorship? We break down the bill, discuss the pros and cons, explore how social media can educate or harm our youth, and ask the tough questions that matter. Tune in for a real conversation that puts power, policy, and parenting at the center of the digital debate.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Stay locked in way news meets the heartbeat of the streets.
It's pulsing politics with Alana Sanders posing politics. Turn it up,
loud voices that matter, speaking truth right now, from the
city to the world. Got the facts so clear, Elina
(00:23):
Sanders keeps it real in here. Breaking news, get the scoop,
say folk, stay tuned politics, say coach, every side, review,
no spin, just facts in the booth so sharp. Alina
Sanders bringing knowledge where the mic and a spark polsting politics,
turn it up, loud voices that matter, speaking truth.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Right now, from the city to the world.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Got the fact so clear, Elina Sanders.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Keeps it real in here. That's the post.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
That's the truth only on pulsing politics.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Welcome back to Posts and politics, when we break down policy.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And how it impacts you.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I'm your hosts Elena Sanders, and today we're getting into
the Kids Off Social Media Act. That's s to seventy eight.
That's right. We're talking about the government stepping in to say, hey,
no social media for kids under thirteen and naked.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
It real hard for.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Thirteen or seventeen year olds to get on without a
parent's say so. Now, before you scream finally, or that's
government outreach.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Let's break it all the way down.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Like always, I'm going to give you the good, the bad,
and the political strategy behind the bill. Let's talk about it.
Let's talk about it.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
What is S to.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Seventy eight, the Kids Off Social Media Act? Okay, let's
start with the basics. S two seventy eight is a
bi partisan bill introduced in the US Senate to ban
social media access for children under thirteen and to require
parental consent for users between thirteen and seventeen.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
That means apps like TikTok, Instagram.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Snapchat, even YouTube with community interaction would all be locked
unless apparent signs off.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Woo, this is going to be good and not good. Okay.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
It also proposes a government run age verification system. Now,
hold up, that's the part that got people raising their eyebrows.
This verification wouldn't be controlled by the platform, but by
the Department of Commerce. Voice of concerned parents out here, okay,
(03:11):
isn't that what we need? Kids are addicted to these apps.
We gotta protect their brains. And so much is going on,
and I feel you out there.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I feel parents, I feel the parents, and I feel.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
For kids as well, but we gotta do something, so truly,
let's talk about what that protection looks like and the
trade off. Okay, so why some say this needs to happen,
Let's talk. Let's talk real. You always hear me gonna say,
let's get real about it. There are mountains of study,
not just study, plural studies showing social media can mess
(03:50):
with young people's mental health, depression, anxiety, body image issues, cyberbuoling,
especially among teen girls. So twenty twenty three CDC You
Frisk Behavior survey its found that nearly three and five
teen girls felt persistently sad are hopeless, the highest level
(04:13):
in a decade. The highest level in a decade. You
think filters and fake lifestyles might have something to do
with that. We don't know, because a lot of these
youth don't know how to handle pressure.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I say this all the time.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
The new generation is not built like us generation exers.
There's a lot that we endured and a lot that
we took that they really can't take.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
So, Plus, these platforms are designed to be addictive, dopamine hits,
endless grows, and algorithms that know your insecurities better than
your mama.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So kids' brains are still developing.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
They are more vulnerable to social press, sure and online
manipulation and facts are it adds in predators, expotation, and
data collection.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
It's wild out there. So we see a.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Little bit why the government had to step in, because
some parents are not stepping in to help with the situation.
The bill is basically saying, let's stop pretending these apps
are playgrounds. They're more like digital casinos with no bouncers.
But let's talk about the concerns. Let's get to the
concerns part. As much as I want to protect our babies,
(05:35):
we gotta be careful about how we do it privacy
and government surveillance. This age verification system is government run.
The government is getting their hands in too much. That
means your child's data, maybe even biometric or ID information,
(05:58):
could be stored or hacked. Who's safeguarding that? That's the question.
Who's safeguarding that?
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Now?
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Blocking educational access now here's where I push back a bit.
Social media isn't all bad. Social media isn't all bad.
In fact, I teach the platform on the university level.
I also present on this platform at various conferences and
(06:29):
so far to help small business owners to also teach
the proper way to ulize the platforms. So there's a
lot of teaching methods out there that can also help
curve some of this of stopping the government getting into
our personal business. In fact, I seen you've used TikTok
(06:50):
to teach math, explain the constitution, break down financial literacy,
even share their college journey. I taught AI coding and
government the reals and live streams. Social media is a tool.
The danger is not the tool, it's how it is used. Again,
(07:15):
the danger is not the tool, it's how's it is used. Now,
some teams, may teens may say, especially some teen activists,
what about youth led movements?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
How is it gonna stop? How is it going to
allow those things to occur?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
They organize on Instagram, they raise awareness on Twitter, they
speak truth to power, So how are they able to
have their voices heard if this is being blocked for them?
I get that argument. Now, remember March for Our Lives,
Black Lives Matter, Youth, climate strikes. Most of that organizing
(07:56):
happened first first online. So now we have I have
to think about, is the government stopping this to save
the youth or they're stopping or trying to stop this
or opposing this bill to go forth to put a
control on speech, freedom of speech, organizing, and those various
(08:21):
things through the same apps this bill could restrict now
disconnected youth.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Let's be real.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
For some kids, social media is their only outlet, their
only connection to people who understand them. You cut that off,
you might just deepen isolation instead of solving it. So
have we really done some deep studies or extensive studies
on this to see if this would be effective or
(08:52):
will it be harmful? So that is where the line
has to be drawn. We have to do more research.
I'm noticing that a lot of bills are coming out
of being proposed without the data, without the extensive research
is just one sided. We have to do the research.
So here's the real question. Is banning the answer or
(09:12):
is education the answer? Let me say that again, Is
banning the answer or is education the answer?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
What if we.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
I stress we invest in digital literacy classes in school
because social media is not going anywhere, Mental health programs
that teach coping with online pressure, parental workshops to help
adults understand what their kids are doing online because a
(09:45):
lot of parents are in the blonde spots of social media.
Some of them are not even on the platforms. They're
not paying attention to what their children are looking at.
They are not engage at some point, and I'm not
saying all parents at some point. Why not hold platforms
(10:08):
accountable instead of just banning access, make them stop addictive designs.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Turn off auto plays for minors.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Remove toxic algorithms, provide real moderation. There is ways where
these apps can be cut off at a certain time.
I even have on my app, especially on Instagram, it
tells me how long I've been on the app, and
it actually gives me an alert. So there's so many
things that these apps also need to be held accountable
for as well, versus having the government first step in
(10:42):
and put these parameters in place that can be permanent.
So let's hold the platforms accountable first to see what
they can do on their end before the government steps in.
So let's talk to the people. That's the pulse check
right there, talking to the community, talking to the heartbeats,
(11:02):
talking to the people. Here's your pulse check. Family, and
I want you to weigh in. I want you to
talk to your kids. Should kids under thirteen be banned
from social media or should it be up to the parents.
Is this law really and I'm gonna say it again,
(11:24):
is it really about protecting youth or is it a
gateway to government surveillance? How has social media help you
or your child learn or grow? This is a question
that parents have to answer. Okay, so I want you
(11:45):
to talk to me, DM me, tag me, hit me up, hashtag,
posse and politics and let's get this conversation going.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
How has social media helped you grow?
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Has it done something thing within your family that has
the third communication?
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Are various things, let's talk about it.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
So, look, the Kids Off Social Media Act is coming
from a good place.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
We hope, We hope.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Sometimes you gotta get the side out to some of
these bills. Yes, so I say, you gotta dig a
little deeper. Protect the you absolutely, but we have to
protect their rights, their access to educational tools, and their
freedom to grow and learn in a digital world too.
(12:36):
We can't raise strong inform leaders by locking the doors
and not letting them know what is actually happening.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
We raise them by teaching them how to navigate the room,
not to avoid the room.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
That's all I have for the days, folks, That's all
I have for a posse in politics. My heart beats
out there. I want to hear from you. I want
to hear from you, the pulse, the community. I'm your
host Elena Sanders. Stay sharp, stay inform, stay engaged, and
stay in the conversation.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
This is paulse and Politics only On Paul and Politics.
Stay locked in way news meets the heartbeat of the streets.
It's pulsing politics with Alana Sanders posing politics. Turn it up,
loud voices that matter, speaking truth right now, from the
city to the world. Got the facts so clear, Elina
(00:23):
Sanders keeps it real in here. Breaking news, get the scoop,
say folk, stay tuned politics, say coach, every side, review,
no spin, just facts in the booth so sharp. Alina
Sanders bringing knowledge where the mic and a spark polsting politics,
turn it up, loud voices that matter, speaking truth.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Right now, from the city to the world.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Got the fact so clear, Elina Sanders.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Keeps it real in here. That's the post.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
That's the truth only on pulsing politics.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Welcome back to Posts and politics, when we break down policy.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And how it impacts you.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I'm your hosts Elena Sanders, and today we're getting into
the Kids Off Social Media Act. That's s to seventy eight.
That's right. We're talking about the government stepping in to say, hey,
no social media for kids under thirteen and naked.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
It real hard for.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Thirteen or seventeen year olds to get on without a
parent's say so. Now, before you scream finally, or that's
government outreach.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Let's break it all the way down.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Like always, I'm going to give you the good, the bad,
and the political strategy behind the bill. Let's talk about it.
Let's talk about it.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
What is S to.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Seventy eight, the Kids Off Social Media Act? Okay, let's
start with the basics. S two seventy eight is a
bi partisan bill introduced in the US Senate to ban
social media access for children under thirteen and to require
parental consent for users between thirteen and seventeen.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
That means apps like TikTok, Instagram.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Snapchat, even YouTube with community interaction would all be locked
unless apparent signs off.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Woo, this is going to be good and not good. Okay.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
It also proposes a government run age verification system. Now,
hold up, that's the part that got people raising their eyebrows.
This verification wouldn't be controlled by the platform, but by
the Department of Commerce. Voice of concerned parents out here, okay,
(03:11):
isn't that what we need? Kids are addicted to these apps.
We gotta protect their brains. And so much is going on,
and I feel you out there.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I feel parents, I feel the parents, and I feel.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
For kids as well, but we gotta do something, so truly,
let's talk about what that protection looks like and the
trade off. Okay, so why some say this needs to happen,
Let's talk. Let's talk real. You always hear me gonna say,
let's get real about it. There are mountains of study,
not just study, plural studies showing social media can mess
(03:50):
with young people's mental health, depression, anxiety, body image issues, cyberbuoling,
especially among teen girls. So twenty twenty three CDC You
Frisk Behavior survey its found that nearly three and five
teen girls felt persistently sad are hopeless, the highest level
(04:13):
in a decade. The highest level in a decade. You
think filters and fake lifestyles might have something to do
with that. We don't know, because a lot of these
youth don't know how to handle pressure.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I say this all the time.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
The new generation is not built like us generation exers.
There's a lot that we endured and a lot that
we took that they really can't take.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
So, Plus, these platforms are designed to be addictive, dopamine hits,
endless grows, and algorithms that know your insecurities better than
your mama.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So kids' brains are still developing.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
They are more vulnerable to social press, sure and online
manipulation and facts are it adds in predators, expotation, and
data collection.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
It's wild out there. So we see a.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Little bit why the government had to step in, because
some parents are not stepping in to help with the situation.
The bill is basically saying, let's stop pretending these apps
are playgrounds. They're more like digital casinos with no bouncers.
But let's talk about the concerns. Let's get to the
concerns part. As much as I want to protect our babies,
(05:35):
we gotta be careful about how we do it privacy
and government surveillance. This age verification system is government run.
The government is getting their hands in too much. That
means your child's data, maybe even biometric or ID information,
(05:58):
could be stored or hacked. Who's safeguarding that? That's the question.
Who's safeguarding that?
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Now?
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Blocking educational access now here's where I push back a bit.
Social media isn't all bad. Social media isn't all bad.
In fact, I teach the platform on the university level.
I also present on this platform at various conferences and
(06:29):
so far to help small business owners to also teach
the proper way to ulize the platforms. So there's a
lot of teaching methods out there that can also help
curve some of this of stopping the government getting into
our personal business. In fact, I seen you've used TikTok
(06:50):
to teach math, explain the constitution, break down financial literacy,
even share their college journey. I taught AI coding and
government the reals and live streams. Social media is a tool.
The danger is not the tool, it's how it is used. Again,
(07:15):
the danger is not the tool, it's how's it is used. Now,
some teams, may teens may say, especially some teen activists,
what about youth led movements?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
How is it gonna stop? How is it going to
allow those things to occur?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
They organize on Instagram, they raise awareness on Twitter, they
speak truth to power, So how are they able to
have their voices heard if this is being blocked for them?
I get that argument. Now, remember March for Our Lives,
Black Lives Matter, Youth, climate strikes. Most of that organizing
(07:56):
happened first first online. So now we have I have
to think about, is the government stopping this to save
the youth or they're stopping or trying to stop this
or opposing this bill to go forth to put a
control on speech, freedom of speech, organizing, and those various
(08:21):
things through the same apps this bill could restrict now
disconnected youth.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Let's be real.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
For some kids, social media is their only outlet, their
only connection to people who understand them. You cut that off,
you might just deepen isolation instead of solving it. So
have we really done some deep studies or extensive studies
on this to see if this would be effective or
(08:52):
will it be harmful? So that is where the line
has to be drawn. We have to do more research.
I'm noticing that a lot of bills are coming out
of being proposed without the data, without the extensive research
is just one sided. We have to do the research.
So here's the real question. Is banning the answer or
(09:12):
is education the answer? Let me say that again, Is
banning the answer or is education the answer?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
What if we.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
I stress we invest in digital literacy classes in school
because social media is not going anywhere, Mental health programs
that teach coping with online pressure, parental workshops to help
adults understand what their kids are doing online because a
(09:45):
lot of parents are in the blonde spots of social media.
Some of them are not even on the platforms. They're
not paying attention to what their children are looking at.
They are not engage at some point, and I'm not
saying all parents at some point. Why not hold platforms
(10:08):
accountable instead of just banning access, make them stop addictive designs.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Turn off auto plays for minors.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Remove toxic algorithms, provide real moderation. There is ways where
these apps can be cut off at a certain time.
I even have on my app, especially on Instagram, it
tells me how long I've been on the app, and
it actually gives me an alert. So there's so many
things that these apps also need to be held accountable
for as well, versus having the government first step in
(10:42):
and put these parameters in place that can be permanent.
So let's hold the platforms accountable first to see what
they can do on their end before the government steps in.
So let's talk to the people. That's the pulse check
right there, talking to the community, talking to the heartbeats,
(11:02):
talking to the people. Here's your pulse check. Family, and
I want you to weigh in. I want you to
talk to your kids. Should kids under thirteen be banned
from social media or should it be up to the parents.
Is this law really and I'm gonna say it again,
(11:24):
is it really about protecting youth or is it a
gateway to government surveillance? How has social media help you
or your child learn or grow? This is a question
that parents have to answer. Okay, so I want you
(11:45):
to talk to me, DM me, tag me, hit me up, hashtag,
posse and politics and let's get this conversation going.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
How has social media helped you grow?
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Has it done something thing within your family that has
the third communication?
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Are various things, let's talk about it.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
So, look, the Kids Off Social Media Act is coming
from a good place.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
We hope, We hope.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Sometimes you gotta get the side out to some of
these bills. Yes, so I say, you gotta dig a
little deeper. Protect the you absolutely, but we have to
protect their rights, their access to educational tools, and their
freedom to grow and learn in a digital world too.
(12:36):
We can't raise strong inform leaders by locking the doors
and not letting them know what is actually happening.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
We raise them by teaching them how to navigate the room,
not to avoid the room.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
That's all I have for the days, folks, That's all
I have for a posse in politics. My heart beats
out there. I want to hear from you. I want
to hear from you, the pulse, the community. I'm your
host Elena Sanders. Stay sharp, stay inform, stay engaged, and
stay in the conversation.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
This is paulse and Politics only On Paul and Politics.
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