From TV to social media to “ambient” AI: Insights from 30 years of children’s media policy in the United States

This essay explores the elements that have historically contributed to a climate in which policy makers feel compelled to regulate media in the United States. It then examines which of these elements are currently in place as lawmakers consider social media and AI regulation. We argue, based on observations of children’s media policy over the past 30 years, that legislative action in the US is almost inevitable. The remainder of the essay lays out the legislative “corrections” that have been proposed and what they suggest about concerns about children’s social media use. We conclude with the challenging road ahead to creating meaningful policy, holding media companies accountable for implementation, and assessing whether and how new regulations make a difference for young people.