The Childhood Index
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Maine

Limited Action

Maine at a glance

  • Maine's attorney general is actively holding tech companies accountable.

  • Maine requires school districts to adopt phone policies, but does not mandate bell-to-bell restrictions.

  • Maine has not enacted any significant social media age restrictions.

  • Maine does not yet have a reasonable childhood independence law.

  • Maine has not yet passed any major laws that regulate harmful tech or hold companies liable.

Areas of Opportunity

  • Expanding the statewide phone policy to require bell-to-bell restrictions will bring focused learning and real connection back to all Maine schools.

  • Passing a reasonable childhood independence law will protect Maine's families from unfair charges of neglect.

  • Setting a social media age minimum of 16 with no parental consent loophole will solve the collective action problem for Maine families.

  • Enacting laws that address harmful social media design and AI safety will protect Maine'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 Maine.

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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

    Maine requires schools to adopt phone policies, but does not mandate bell-to-bell restrictions. View the state’s Phone-Free Schools Report Card.

  • Childhood Independence

    Maine does not yet have a reasonable childhood independence law, leaving too much discretion to the authorities and putting parents at risk of unfair neglect charges.

Political Leadership

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

Tech Policies

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

  • Social Media Age Limits

    Maine has not enacted any significant social media age restrictions.

  • Regulating Harmful Design

    Maine has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.

  • Holding Tech Companies Accountable

    Maine has not yet enacted any significant laws in this area.

  • Incentivizing Safer Tech

    Maine 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. Maine 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.

Geographic Neighbors

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New Hampshire
Emerging Action

Our Call to Action

We created the Childhood Index to accelerate progress in the movement to reclaim childhood and protect kids online.
The next step belongs to you.

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