Policy Update: Special Congress Edition September 2025

Children and Screens designed the 2025 Congress with a research-to-action emphasis, drawing directly from the frontlines of policymaking. Sessions examined the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) approach to digital regulation; featured activists, attorneys, and journalists advancing a safer internet; debated the value of school smartphone bans; and explored evidence-based pathways from research to policy and practice. Policy was woven into nearly every panel, with sessions dedicated to regulatory matters, recent legal and legislative milestones, and next steps.

Opening Day

Children and Screens’ Executive Director, Kris Perry, moderated,  “Legislation and Litigation: Approaches to Accountability for Social Media,” with Alix Fraser (Vice President of Advocacy, Issue One), Imran Ahmed (CEO & Founder, Center for Countering Digital Hate), and Gretchen Peters (Executive Director, Alliance to Counter Crime Online). Panelists discussed experiences shaping their advocacy, current regulatory tools, the critical role of science in policy impact, and additional measures needed to strengthen the digital ecosystem.

Immediately afterward, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson joined Children and Screens’ Chief Science Officer, Dr. Dimitri Christakis, for a fireside chat on the FTC’s role in regulating technology and digital media. Chairman Ferguson provided an overview of the agency’s history,  jurisdiction, regulatory powers, limitations, and leadership approach.

Litigation and Legal Accountability

The following day, Matthew Bergman, founding Attorney of the Social Media Victims Law Center and a member of Children and Screens’ National Scientific Advisory Board, outlined ongoing litigation aimed at holding technology companies accountable, including landmark cases on behalf of families affected by harmful online experiences.

The School Smartphone Debate

On day three, National Scientific Advisory Board member Paul Weigle hosted a structured debate on school smartphone policies. Josh Golin (Executive Director, Fairplay) and Daniel Buck (Research Fellow, American Enterprise Institute) argued for bell-to-bell smartphone bans, while Carlene MacMillan (Co-Founder, Fermata; Chief Product Officer, Radial) and Brandon Cardet-Hernandez (President, Mrs Wordsmith) argued against full-day prohibitions. The opposition won the debate by shifting the opinion of more audience members, but ultimately a small majority of the audience remained in favor of full-day bans in high schools; notably, both sides supported some level of restriction, prompting continued discussion in dedicated breakout sessions.

Recognizing Champions in Congress

At our reception and awards dinner at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Children and Screens honored three U.S. Senators for their leadership in advancing children’s digital well-being:

• • Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) received the Children and Screens Award for Leadership in Children’s Digital Well-Being for bipartisan commitment to kids’ online safety.
  • Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) received the Lifetime Advocate for Children’s Digital Privacy Rights Award in recognition of decades of leadership, including authoring the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

Senators Blackburn and Blumenthal delighted diners with in-person remarks. Senator Markey shared heartfelt recorded comments. All emphasized the critical role of research and the urgent need for stronger technology regulations. (Read more and watch the Senator’s remarks here.)

From Research to Action

The final day featured a breakout session on evidence-based policy, addressing the global impact of U.S. tech policy, the importance of consistent messaging, and strategies for uniting diverse stakeholders. Read more about the takeaways in the breakout session report. The closing panel, “Connecting the Dots: From Research to Action, and the Road Ahead,” moderated by Kris Perry, and featuring Dimitri Christakis, Marisa Gerstein Pineau (Director of Research Application, FrameWorks Institute), and Isabel Sunderland (Technology Reform Policy Associate, Issue One), explored children’s agency in the digital world, the value of diverse research approaches, and effective message framing to motivate policy action.

View all available session recordings.