(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A state lawmaker is hoping a hearing that took place Tuesday will be the first step in advancing a bill meant to protect children from the negative impacts of social media.
"We're seeing increase in mental health problems in our minors," said State Senator Sue Rezin.
"We're seeing an increase in anxiety and an increase in suicide in our minors and a lot of the data is pointing to what they're seeing on social media."
She said that's what prompted her to introduce Senate Bill 11-26 to try to regulate social media in Illinois.
"The federal government, congress has failed to act on this issue, so it's incumbent upon the states to put bumpers in place."
Rezin said the Bill's objectives are simple and aim to "put protections into place that protect minors from the algorithms, protect minors' data and protect minors on these social media platforms."
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