INDIANAPOLIS (Indiana News Service) - Indiana lawmakers are taking a closer look at how social media and smartphones affect young people.

New proposals debated at the Statehouse focus on stronger parental involvement, improved age verification, and limits on some platform features seen as addictive for minors. Youth advocates said the discussion comes as research shows many teens already worry about their own online habits.

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Tami Silverman, president and CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute, said even young users recognize the problem.

“Forty-five percent of teens say they believe they’re spending too much time on social media,” Silverman reported. “To have the young people themselves acknowledge that it’s probably too much was new information.”

Research shows mixed effects. Many teens say social media strengthens friendships and creativity but others report anxiety, cyberbullying, and sleep disruption, especially young girls.

Silverman stressed the challenge now is helping families and communities build healthier digital habits for kids.

“We want to make sure that parental controls (and) device settings are appropriate for the age of the child,” Silverman urged. “We can protect the sleep of our kids by keeping phones outside of the bedroom entirely overnight. Make sure there’s a family docking station.”

Indiana youth advocates said the state’s legislative steps are only the beginning, and families, schools and communities will all play a role in shaping safer digital environments for kids.

Joe Ulery wrote this article.

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