Should Congress Spend $95 Million to Investigate Technology’s Effects on Kids?

What’s the story?

• Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) has introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide the National Institutes of Health (NIH) $95 million to research the effects of technology and media on infants, children, and adolescents.
• The Children and Media Research Advancement Act (CAMRA) would distribute the funds over five years to researchers studying how mobile devices, social media, AI, and virtual reality affect children’s cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional development. 

“We owe it to our kids to figure out how devices and apps affect their health and well-being,” Bennet said. “Congress has a vital role to play on matters of public health, but we must act based on sound evidence. Our bill will enable that research to help guide the tech industry and Congress as we work to do right by our kids.”

• The bill has received endorsement from Facebook, the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, and Common Sense Media.

What do you think?

Do you support the Children and Media Research Advancement Act? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: SeanShot / iStock)