Indiana took a bold stand Wednesday as the Senate Education Committee pushed two major bills forward that could reshape how children across the state use phones, tablets, and social media both at school and at home.

One measure would force platforms like Instagram and TikTok to get written permission from parents before any Hoosier under 18 can create an account. The other would give parents new power to lock down school-issued devices after hours and block inappropriate content.

Both bills now head to the Senate Judiciary Committee after clearing the education panel with strong bipartisan support.

The social media restrictions in Senate Bill 199 passed 11-2. Only Democrats Sen. Andrea Hunley of Indianapolis and Sen. Shelli Yoder of Bloomington voted no.

Senate Bill 159, focused on school devices, passed even stronger at 12-1, with Hunley again the lone no vote.

Why Lawmakers Say Action Can’t Wait

Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner delivered emotional testimony that clearly moved committee members.

“Our children growing up today do not have the same luxury we had of a childhood free from constant comparison, cyberbullying, and addictive algorithms,” Jenner told lawmakers.

She shared stories from principals and counselors across the state who report students unable to focus in class because they are glued to their phones or distraught over online drama.

Recent federal data backs up what Indiana educators see every day.

The CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 57% of teenage girls nationwide reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, up dramatically from a decade ago. Mental health experts increasingly point to social media as a major factor.

In Indiana specifically, Riley Children’s Health reported a 40% increase in emergency room visits for mental health crises among teens between 2019 and 2023.

Committee chair Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, who authored the social media bill, said the evidence is overwhelming.

“We keep hearing from parents who feel helpless,” Raatz said. “This bill gives them back control.”

What the Social Media Bill Actually Does

The core of SB 199 is simple but sweeping: social media companies must verify parental consent before allowing anyone under 18 to create an account.

Companies would face penalties if they fail to comply.

A similar version of this bill actually passed the Indiana Senate last year but died in the House. Lawmakers say they have made changes to address previous concerns and believe it has a stronger chance this session.

The bill also includes provisions to make it easier for parents to request removal of their child’s content and requires platforms to provide tools for time limits and content filtering.

New Parental Powers Over School Devices

Senate Bill 159 targets a different problem: the thousands of Chromebooks and iPads schools hand out that students take home every night.

Currently, many districts turn off filters when devices leave school property. That means students can access TikTok, YouTube, games, or worse while doing homework.

Starting in 2027, schools would be required to let parents strengthen content filters and set time limits on school-issued devices even when they are at home.

Sen. Spencer Deery, R-West Lafayette, who wrote the bill, said nearly every major vendor Indiana schools use already has this capability built in.

“We are not asking schools to buy new software,” Deery told the committee. “We are asking them to turn on features they already pay for.”

The bill would also ban use of school devices for non-educational purposes during class time, closing a loophole many students currently exploit.

Pushback and Concerns

Not everyone is celebrating.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana warned that requiring age verification could force platforms to collect more personal data from all users, not just minors.

“These requirements often mean everyone has to upload government ID or submit to facial age estimation,” said Samantha Bresnahan with the ACLU. “That creates serious privacy risks.”

Some Democrats argued the bills take power away from local school boards.

“I believe in home rule,” Sen. Hunley said. “The people closest to our schools should make these decisions, not lawmakers in Indianapolis.”

Others worried about unintended consequences, like blocking educational content on e-learning days.

Sen. Stacey Donato, R-Logansport, asked what happens if a teacher assigns a YouTube video but a parent’s filter blocks the site.

Deery promised to work on language that protects legitimate educational uses.

National Context and Growing Momentum

Indiana is far from alone.

Florida passed a strict social media ban for kids under 14 last year. Texas now requires parental consent for minors on social media. California, New York, and several other states have similar laws working through their legislatures.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory in 2023 calling social media a major contributor to the youth mental health crisis and urged immediate action.

Even some tech executives are starting to speak out. Last year, former Meta and Pinterest executives testified before Congress that their companies knowingly designed addictive features targeting children.

The momentum appears to be on the side of restriction.

With strong committee votes and Republican supermajorities in both chambers, many observers believe at least one of these Indiana bills has a real shot at becoming law this session.

For Hoosier parents exhausted from nightly battles over phones and worried about what their kids see online, help may finally be on the way.

What do you think? Should Indiana pass these restrictions, or do they go too far? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and if you are sharing on social media, use #IndianaKidsOnline so we can keep the conversation going.