Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Legislation to Study Impact of Technology and Media on Children
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Senators Edward Markey (D-MA), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) in introducing the Children and Media Research Advancement (CAMRA) Act, legislation that authorizes the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to lead a research program on technology and media’s effects on infants, children, and adolescents in core areas of cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional development.
This research would investigate the impact of exposure to and use of media such as mobile devices, computers, social media, applications, websites, television, motion pictures, artificial intelligence, video games, and virtual and augmented reality. The bill authorizes $15 million for fiscal years 2019-2021 and $25 million for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
“Over the past few decades, the manner in which children and adolescents interact with technology and media has changed. There is little research, however, on the effects these devices and programs have on their short and long-term health and development,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan bill would provide NIH with the resources they need to conduct research to keep youth healthy.”
Research indicates that children’s use of technology has increased dramatically in recent years. A 2017 report finds that children eight years old and younger spend 48 minutes a day on mobile devices, up from 15 minutes in 2013. Similarly, 42 percent of kids eight years old and younger have their own tablets, a major increase from seven percent in 2013 and a mere one percent in 2011.
“Parents urgently need independent scientific research into the impacts on our kids of growing up online,” said James P. Steyer, CEO & Founder of Common Sense Media. “Digital devices are constant companions in this digital age, but we don’t understand the impact on child development, education, or overall well-being. Without good research, we are performing an unprecedented experiment on our kids. The CAMRA Act is our chance to support quality research into the digital health of America's kids and families. The well-being of children is non-partisan, and we commend Senator Markey, Sasse, Blunt, Schatz, Collins, and Bennet for their bipartisan leadership on this issue impacting all American families.”
“Internet companies care deeply about the safety and well-being of their users and welcome scientific research on this important issue funded through the CAMRA Act,” said Melika Carroll, Senior Vice President of Global Government Affairs at the Internet Association. “Existing research lacks the rigor, quality, and independence of an NIH study into this important topic. IA members invest in programs, partnerships, policies, controls, and resources to promote a safe and positive online experience for people of all ages, and look forward to identifying more ways to enhance people’s well-being on and offline.”
“The media we use and how we use them affect the physical, mental, and social health of us all – and have the strongest and most lasting effects on children, whose brains and bodies are still developing,” said Dr. Michael Rich, Director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Boston Children’s Hospital. “I urge Congress to pass the CAMRA Act because it is essential that we have 21st Century scientific research to determine how we can promote health and mitigate harm from this ubiquitous and powerful 21st Century public health issue.”
Other companies and organizations endorsing the legislation include: Facebook, the Internet Association, American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Center for Digital Democracy, Common Sense Media, Consumers Union, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, Family Online Safety Institute, and the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health.
Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives John Delaney (D-MD) and Ted Budd (R-NC).
