U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Susan Collins (R-ME) recently introduced bipartisan legislation that would determine how technology and media impact the development of infants, children and adolescents across the United States.
“Children are increasingly using digital devices in their everyday lives, but little is known about the impact technology has on their health and development,” Sen. Blunt said. “Advancing research to better understand the impact of technology will help parents create a healthy environment for their children to learn and grow.”
The Children and Media Research Advancement (CAMRA) Act, S. 3286, introduced with U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) on July 26, would authorize the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to lead a research program on technology’s and media’s effects on core areas of cognitive, physical and socio-emotional development of American children. U.S. Reps. Ted Budd (R-NC) and John Delaney (D-MD) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House.
“Over the past few decades, the manner in which children and adolescents interact with technology and media has changed,” noted Sen. Collins. “There is little research, however, on the effects these devices and programs have on their short and long-term health and development.”
Sen. Collins said the bill “would provide NIH with the resources they need to conduct research to keep youth healthy.”
Recent research shows that children’s technology use has significantly increased, according to a July 26 statement released by the bill’s sponsors. For instance, a 2017 report said children 8 years old and younger spend 48 minutes a day on mobile devices, a 15-minute increase over 2013, according to the statement.
“While technology educates and entertains our children every day, we need a better understanding of how it impacts their social, psychological and physical well-being,” Sen. Markey said, adding that the legislation would “enable experts to conduct critical research that will inform parents and policymakers about how best to protect American children’s bodies and minds in the digital age.”
If enacted, S. 3286 would direct NIH to investigate the impact of exposure to and use of media, including mobile devices, computers, social media, applications, websites, television, motion pictures, artificial intelligence, video games, and virtual and augmented reality. The bill would authorize $15 million for fiscal years 2019 through 2021, and $25 million for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
Numerous companies and organizations have endorsed the legislation, including Facebook, the Internet Association, the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, the Center for Digital Democracy, Common Sense Media, and Consumers Union, among others.
S. 3286 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.