Massachusetts Bill Proposes Social Media Algorithm Audits to Protect Youth

Professor Nancy Costello

Legislation spearheaded by Professor Nancy Costello, along with student researchers 3L Stephanie Diamond, 2L Caroline Berish, and Law College alum Mackenzie Almassian, ’24, has been introduced in the Massachusetts State Senate.

The proposed bill mandates that social media companies conduct algorithm risk audits to assess the impact of recommendation-based algorithms on young users. These algorithms, a fundamental feature of online platforms, have been linked to potential harm, particularly among youth.

Carefully crafted to navigate First Amendment and Section 230 legal concerns, the legislation aims to hold platforms accountable without infringing on constitutional protections. The initiative stems from a three-year research collaboration with the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health.