Bill > H1797

This bill establishes a special legislative commission to investigate the use of intermittent variable rewards (IVRs) and other psychological strategies employed by social media platforms, with a particular focus on how these techniques may manipulatively influence adolescent users. The commission will be composed of legislative leaders, including chairs of the judiciary committee, representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, senate president, and minority leaders, as well as key government officials such as the commissioners of mental health, public health, and the attorney general (or their respective designees). The commission is tasked with conducting a comprehensive study on these social media strategies and must submit a detailed report with recommendations to the clerks of the house and senate within one year of the bill's passage. The primary goal appears to be understanding the potential psychological impact of social media design techniques on young users, with an emphasis on how platforms might use intermittent variable rewards to extend user engagement time.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1797