PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 16, 2023
Stopping Attempts by Foreign Entities to Target Youths on Social Media Act Act [sic] of 2023 or the SAFETY on Social Media Act of 2023
This bill restricts domestic access to computer or mobile apps or websites (e.g., TikTok) of social media companies owned or controlled by countries of concern (China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia).
The President must annually publish a list of these companies and block certain transactions involving them. A company must be listed if it
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
is a foreign entity owned or controlled by a country of concern;
has more than a specified number of users or downloads; and
has altered or may alter the content of apps or websites at the request of, or shared data about U.S. persons (individuals or entities) with, a country of concern.
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission must prohibit access to listed companies' apps or websites through U.S. app stores and internet service providers.
Further, the bill requires agents of listed companies to register with the Department of Justice and restricts access to U.S. visas by foreign nationals employed by listed companies. Foreign nationals are ineligible for U.S. visas (1) while employed by a listed company, and (2) for three years after either they terminate that employment or their employer is removed from the list. A foreign national of a country of concern who is employed by a listed company is also permanently ineligible for an H-1B visa (nonimmigrant workers in specialty occupations and fashion models).
People & committees
Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] · R–AR
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: May 27, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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