Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
METHUEN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Methuen City Council unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday aimed at protecting youth under 16 from the dangers of social media.
The initiative, introduced by Methuen Mayor D.J. Beauregard, limits access to social media for kids under 16 on city-owned devices and networks when feasible. The city also plans to launch a parent toolkit and distribute educational materials through the school district, library, and city events.
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The Mayor's Office will also commission an annual study to examine social media's impact on mental health, social development, and academic performance.
Jocelyn, a Methuen High School student who beat the age limit by one year, thinks it's regulation is a "good idea" because social media "can become a problem kind of fast."
"But I think it also is up to the person themselves, like the kid, to kind of know where that boundary is for themselves," Jocelyn said.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.