Restrictions on social media to safeguard underage users

Effective July 1, 2027, restrictions will be placed on social media to safeguard underage users by requiring age monitoring and verification for social media platforms, parental approval, and specific treatment of accounts for children under age 16 related to addictive features, paid advertising, and the creation and termination of accounts.

Notable provisions are:

• requiring verifiable parental consent to create an account for a user under age 16;

• requiring the default settings on a social media account for a child 15 years or younger to be the most private;

• requiring the social media platform to offer parental options to monitor and limit platform use when creating or continuing a child account; and

• prohibiting addictive interface features — such as infinite scrolling and push notifications — and targeted paid ads from being displayed on the account of a child 15 years of age or younger.

A private right of action will be permitted for violations, and can include both statutory and punitive damages for a reckless or knowing violation by a social media platform.

Per the new law, social media platforms that violate the law also violate the state Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which is enforceable by the state attorney general.

Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover) and Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley) are the sponsors.

HF4138*/SF4696/CH111

HF4138* / SF4696 / CH111