The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee heard testimony from experts on the impact of screen time on children and young adults. The witnesses said kids spend an average of five to eight hours a day on screens, warning it had fueled a mental health, learning, and creativity crisis. Neuroscientist Jared Horvath said Generation Z--those born roughly between 1997 and 2012-is the first generation to underperform across every cognitive measure. Witnesses urged Congress to act by banning artificial intelligence chatbots and companion apps for minors, implementing bans on phones and social media in schools during the school day, and enforcing changes to algorithms designed to keep children engaged. The panel also unanimously agreed that social media should be banned for children under the age of 18.