Massachusetts

Limited Action

Massachusetts at a glance

Massachusetts' attorney general is actively holding tech companies accountable.
Massachusetts parents report conditions that support childhood resilience.
Massachusetts has not mandated a restriction on phones in schools.
Massachusetts has not enacted any significant social media age restrictions.
Massachusetts does not yet have a reasonable childhood independence law.

Areas of Opportunity

Passing a statewide bell-to-bell phone-free schools policy will bring focused learning and real connection back to Massachusetts' schools.
Passing a reasonable childhood independence law will protect Massachusetts' families from unfair charges of neglect.
Setting a social media age minimum of 16 with no parental consent loophole will solve the collective action problem for Massachusetts families.
Enacting laws that address harmful social media design and AI safety will protect Massachusetts' kids from manipulative technology.

These opportunities are within reach for your home state. Download our policy menu, reach out to us, and reclaim childhood in Massachusetts.

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Dive Deeper

Childhood Development Policies

Is the state helping to solve the collective action problems families face by adopting policies that support a healthier real-world childhood?

Distraction-Free Schools
Massachusetts has not yet mandated a statewide restriction on phones in schools. View the state’s Phone-Free Schools Report Card.
Childhood Independence
Massachusetts does not yet have a reasonable childhood independence law, leaving too much discretion to the authorities and putting parents at risk of unfair neglect charges.

Political Leadership

Is the governor championing kids' safety, and is the Office of the Attorney General using its power to hold big tech accountable?

Governor Leadership
Governor Maura Healey announced plans in January 2026 to file legislation restricting social media for minors, including age verification, parental consent requirements, and limits on addictive features. In her statement she acknowledged the mental health risks of social media use for kids.
Attorney General Leadership
Massachusetts' Attorney General has taken strong action on tech accountability, filing an independent lawsuit against Meta and joining the multistate TikTok litigation. Massachusetts led the AI Chatbot Safety Letter and signed the AI Child Safety Letter, AI Local Authority Letter, and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) Letter. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell also introduced the STUDY Act in 2025, which would mandate bell-to-bell phone-free schools, and would require social media platforms to verify ages, set strict privacy defaults for minors, introduce content flagging tools, and apply warning labels. The STUDY Act has not yet been voted into law.

Tech Policies

What is the state doing to address harmful tech and hold companies accountable?

Social Media Age Limits
Massachusetts has not enacted any significant social media age restrictions.
Regulating Harmful Design
Massachusetts has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.
Holding Tech Companies Accountable
Massachusetts has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.
Incentivizing Safer Tech
Massachusetts has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.

Family Perceptions

What do parents in the state say about their children's tech use, opportunities for independence, and real-life interactions?

IFS Resilient Childhood Score
High. Massachusetts parents report that their kids experience:
- High levels of independent, unsupervised activity
- Ample time spent playing outside and socializing with friends
- Relatively low screen time and tech use

This page was last updated on March 4, 2026. The Childhood Index highlights key policies and actions and is not intended to be a comprehensive list. If there’s something you think we missed or should consider, we welcome your feedback.