Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) announced that the Safe Social Media Act, which he co-sponsored, was unanimously approved by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade on December 14. The bill, known as H.R. 6290, instructs the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a thorough study of social media use among individuals under 17 years old.
Bentz stated: “Every day, millions of young Americans log onto platforms that are collecting their information, shaping what they see and influencing how they think. I have heard from parents, teachers, and mental health professionals all of whom are increasingly worried about what these platforms are doing to our kids. This Act will require a study that will gather the data necessary to learn how and what social media is impacting our children. My bill is a necessary step toward real accountability.”
Cliff Bentz has represented Oregon’s 2nd district in Congress since 2021 after succeeding Greg Walden. He previously served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislature between 2008 and 2020. Bentz was born in Salem in 1952 and currently resides in Ontario. He graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a bachelor’s degree in 1974 and earned his law degree from Lewis and Clark College in 1977.
