Published 7:58 am Monday, April 27, 2026 Bans on social media for minors are having a political moment. Parents’ sincere concerns and politicians’ instincts to capitalize on those fears are driving federal and state legislation like the kind already in effect elsewhere in the world. But no amount of good intentions makes these efforts good policy. At the federal level, bipartisan legislation seeks to ban some age groups from creating or maintaining a social media account and restrict older youths from algorithmic recommendations. Most recently, the Massachusetts House passed legislationbanning children under 14 from social media and requiring parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. Numerous other states are in varying stages of considering or implementing similar rules. Despite consensus across the political aisle and around the country, these proposals are filled with problems. Practically, online bans and restrictions for children trigger age verification for everyone.…