Press Releases

Chairman Cruz Announces Kids Screen Time Hearing

January 8, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee hearing titled “Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth” on Thursday, January 15th at 10:00 am EST. With tweens spending an average of five hours a day on screens, and teens over eight hours a day, this hearing will examine how early, excessive use of smartphones, tablets, and laptops can harm development and mental wellbeing. The hearing will also explore how to empower parents, who often struggle to monitor and limit screen time, at a time when the U.S. education system – fueled by federal subsidies and incentives – is providing personal devices to children.

In one of his first moves as chairman, Sen. Cruz, with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), reintroduced the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA), bipartisan legislation to help protect kids from the harmful impacts of social media. KOSMA would set a minimum age to use social media platforms at 13 and prevent social media companies from using algorithms to feed addictive content to users under the age of 17. Additionally, KOSMA would prevent taxpayer dollars from funding tools that allow children to access social media in the classroom by blocking social media and other harmful content on federally funded school networks and devices. KOSMA passed out of committee in February 2025.

Upon announcing the hearing, Sen. Cruz said:

“Every parent I know is concerned about the time their kids spend online and what trash they may be exposed to: predators, self-harm videos, or mindless filth. Kids need time to be kids—to experience the real world, not disappear into a virtual one. That is why I joined with Sen. Schatz to reintroduce the bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act, a bill that forces Big Tech to take responsibility for its products, protects children from excessive screen time, and lets teachers teach without cell phone distractions. As Chairman of the Commerce Committee, I am confident we can heed the calls of parents everywhere by delivering this bill to President Trump's desk to help protect America’s youth.”

Witnesses:

  • Dr. Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology, San Diego State University
  • Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, Director, LME Global
  • Ms. Emily Cherkin, Author and Founder of The Screentime Consultant
  • Dr. Jenny Radesky, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School.

Hearing Details:

WHAT: Full Committee Hearing titled “Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth”

DATE: Thursday, January 15, 2026

TIME: 10:00 AM EST

LOCATION: Committee Hearing Room, Russell 253

LIVESTREAM: The hearing will stream live on the Committee web site and YouTube.

MEDIA INFO: Reporters wanting to attend the committee should contact their respective media gallery to RSVP.

 

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