US EditionState lawmaker files bill aimed at banning social media for minors
- Governor Glenn Youngkin signed Virginia's SB854, the Consumer Data Protection Act, on Friday to limit social media use for children under 16 to one hour daily starting January 1, 2026.
- The bill was unanimously approved with support from both parties after legislators agreed that platforms should implement unbiased age verification methods to monitor time limits and require parental approval for any adjustments.
- Youngkin, who has long raised concerns about the effects of social media on young people's mental well-being, proposed expanding restrictions to include those under 18 and issued an executive directive aimed at tackling the growing mental health challenges faced by youth.
- Studies linked excessive social media use to increased depression and anxiety in teens, with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warning that social media can severely harm minors' mental health and that safety evidence is insufficient.
- The law sets a precedent for regulating minors' social media use, requiring platforms to verify age and comply with limits, potentially influencing further legislation amid growing concerns over youth mental health and online safety.
14 Articles
14 Articles
App store age restriction bill passes without objection - American Press
By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square Louisiana is looking to join several states in cracking down on access to mobile applications for underage individuals. Under House Bill 570, teens would need parental permission to download apps like TikTok, Snapchat or Instagram. The legislation, which passed without objection, aims to give parents greater control over the digital lives of their children by requiring app stores to verify the age of users a…
State lawmaker files bill aimed at banning social media for minors
A Texas bill is aiming to ban social media for minors.House Bill 186, introduced by state Rep. Jared Patterson (R-Frisco), would require social media platforms to verify users’ ages and prohibit anyone under 18 from creating an account. The bill has passed the Texas House and is expected to gain traction in the state Senate before the legislative session ends on June 2.Patterson’s office compared the bill to past efforts to regulate harmful subs…
Members’ Bill To Protect Under 16s From Social Media Harm
The bill puts the onus on social media companies to verify that someone is over the age of 16 before they access social media platforms. Currently, there are no legally enforceable age verification measures for social media platforms in New Zealand.
Duchess of York: Ofcom measures will not be enough to ‘shield our teenagers’
Ofcom's new rules will empower the regulator to issue large fines against social media companies failing to protect child users, and to seek court orders to ban them in the UK entirely in extreme cases
The Daily Wire
GOP Gov Signs Law That Would Set Daily Time Limit For Kids On Social Media
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill into law on Friday to limit the social media use of minors under the age of 16 to one hour per day. The Consumer Data Protection Act, supported by both Republican and Democrat state lawmakers, will require social media platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, to limit minors’ time ...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
