Sponsors, experts, and parents emphasize need for ‘Kids Over Clicks’ legislation to combat unethical, predatory practices that exploit and jeopardize minors
LANSING, Mich. (March 4, 2026) — Today, the Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee held a hearing on Senate Bills 757–760, Senate Democrats’ Kids Over Clicks package to increase internet safety and safeguard Michigan children. These bills would hold Big Tech companies accountable for unethical practices that prey on vulnerable users in the name of profit, address emerging risks associated with AI and social media usage, and empower Michigan parents with more autonomy and transparency over their kids’ digital activity.
“From helping block overbearing robocalls and spam texts to combating ticket bots, the Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee has made it a priority to adapt to changing technologies and address the new threats that come with them,” said Sen. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), chair of the Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection Committee. “It is especially important to stand up against addictive social media, data privacy, human-like AI bots, and other threats facing our kids. These bills provide clear, common-sense policies to help families navigate today’s digital landscape. I look forward to continuing this conversation towards the final passage of these bills for Michigan’s children today — and for generations to come.”
Bill sponsors Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), and Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) testified in support of their legislation today:
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SB 757 (Camilleri), the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act, would prohibit social media platforms from providing addictive, personal data-driven feeds to minors unless parental consent is given;
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SBs 758 (Hertel) and 759 (Sen. Stephanie Chang [D-Detroit]), the Kids Code Act, would mandate stricter data privacy and safety settings for minors on digital platforms while also giving parents more control over their children’s online accounts.
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SB 760 (Polehanki), the Leading Ethical AI Development (LEAD) for Kids Act, would ensure that dangerous AI companion chatbots are inaccessible to children, including those that have the capability to encourage self-harming behaviors, illegal activities, sexually explicit interactions, etc.
“For far too long, big tech has profited off of our children and exposed them to harmful content. Their privacy, safety, and well-being have not been a priority of these social media platforms, and today is the first step in holding them accountable and putting our kids first,” said Sen. Camilleri, a former teacher. “This is a common-sense change that would help both kids and parents alike, and we’ve already seen states like California and New York take steps to address these concerns.”
“Parents across Michigan are facing the dilemma of if and when to introduce technology and social media into their children’s lives, and it’s made all the more difficult by Big Tech companies putting their own profit margin ahead of our kids’ well-being,” said Sen. Hertel. “That’s why our Kids Over Clicks package is so critical. At its core, these bills are about building the kind of world we want for our kids: a world where they’re more focused on passing their math test than counting how many likes their social media post has. A world where they’re excited about seeing their friends at soccer practice, not through a screen.”
“When new technologies enter our lives, especially technologies that interact directly with young people, there is a basic expectation that safety will come first. Unfortunately, that has not been the case with the rapid expansion of AI companion chatbots,” said Sen. Polehanki, a former educator. “My bill establishes clear safety guardrails to protect children from dangerous AI companion chatbots, because here in Michigan, protecting children is not optional.”
The bill sponsors were joined by legal, health, and technology experts, as well as youth and parent advocates, to underscore the need to pass this legislation and better protect Michigan kids from digital dangers. Additional testimony in support of the bills was provided today by:
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Julie Braciszewski, Owner and Director of Monarch Behavioral Health PLLC;
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Dr. Elizabeth Hull, Nurse Practitioner;
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Nancy A. Costello, Clinical Professor of Law at Michigan State University;Holly Grosshans, Senior Counsel on Tech Policy with Common Sense Media;
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Representatives from the Young Person’s Alliance;
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Representatives from the Michigan Student Turnout Project; and
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Parent advocates.
To watch a recording of today’s hearing, click here.
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