Connecticut

Limited Action

Connecticut at a glance

Connecticut has a reasonable childhood independence law.
Governor Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong are championing new legislation that will protect kids online.
Connecticut has not yet mandated a statewide restriction on phones in schools.
Connecticut has not enacted any significant social media age restrictions.
Connecticut has not yet passed any major laws that regulate harmful tech or hold companies liable.

Areas of Opportunity

Passing a statewide bell-to-bell phone-free schools policy will bring focused learning and real connection back to Connecticut's schools.
Setting a social media age minimum of 16 with no parental consent loophole will solve the collective action problem for Connecticut families.
Enacting laws that address harmful social media design and AI safety will protect Connecticut's kids from manipulative technology.

These opportunities are within reach for your home state. Download our policy menu, reach out to us, and reclaim childhood in Connecticut.

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Dive Deeper

Childhood Development Policies

Is the state helping to solve the collective action problems families face by adopting policies that support a healthier real-world childhood?

Distraction-Free Schools
Connecticut has not yet mandated a statewide restriction on phones in schools. View the state’s Phone-Free Schools Report Card.
Childhood Independence
Connecticut passed a reasonable childhood independence law in 2023. According to Let Grow, the law clarifies that a child being unsupervised alone is not grounds for prosecution unless the child is unable to manage and faces real danger.

Political Leadership

Is the governor championing kids' safety, and is the Office of the Attorney General using its power to hold big tech accountable?

Governor Leadership
Governor Ned Lamont announced his support for bell-to-bell phone-free school legislation during his 2026 State of the State address and, with Attorney General Tong, proposed legislation designed to “combat youth social media addiction.”
Attorney General Leadership
Attorney General William Tong has been active on tech accountability, joining the multistate lawsuit against Meta and serving as a lead state on the xAI Grok Letter and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) Letter. Connecticut has also signed the AI Child Safety Letter, AI Local Authority Letter, and AI Chatbot Safety Letter.

Tech Policies

What is the state doing to address harmful tech and hold companies accountable?

Social Media Age Limits
Connecticut has not enacted any significant social media age restrictions.
Regulating Harmful Design
Connecticut has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.
Holding Tech Companies Accountable
Connecticut has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.
Incentivizing Safer Tech
Connecticut has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.

Family Perceptions

What do parents in the state say about their children's tech use, opportunities for independence, and real-life interactions?

IFS Resilient Childhood Score
High. Connecticut parents report that their kids experience:
- High levels of independent, unsupervised activity
- Ample time spent playing outside and socializing with friends
- Relatively low screen time and tech use

This page was last updated on March 4, 2026. The Childhood Index highlights key policies and actions and is not intended to be a comprehensive list. If there’s something you think we missed or should consider, we welcome your feedback.