Georgia is considering implementing a law that would require children under 16 to obtain explicit parental permission in order to create social media accounts. The bill, known as Senate Bill 351, also includes provisions to ban social media use on school devices, require porn sites to verify users are over 18, and mandate additional education by schools on social media and internet use. The bill passed in the House with a vote of 120-45 and in the Senate with a vote of 48-7. If signed by Governor Brian Kemp, Georgia would join other states such as Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Utah in requiring parental consent for minors to use social media.
State Representative Scott Hilton, a Republican from Peachtree Corners, argues that social media is causing harm to children and that more restrictions are necessary. He cited concerns about the negative impact of social media on mental health. However, opponents of the bill have raised concerns about unintended consequences, such as the potential ban on teachers showing educational YouTube videos in schools. The bill would also require social media services to make efforts to verify users’ age by 2025 and treat those who cannot be verified as minors. Parents of children under 16 would need to consent to their children joining a social media service.
The bill also aims to restrict social media companies from customizing ads for children under 16 and limit the amount of information these companies can collect on young users. To comply with federal regulations, social media companies are already required to prohibit children under the age of 13 from signing up on their platforms. Despite these bans, research shows that a large majority of teenagers aged 13-17 still use social media platforms regularly. In an effort to protect children, the bill proposes age verification for accessing porn sites, potentially leading these sites to cut off access to Georgians.
The move to regulate social media and internet use for children comes after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned about the potential dangers of these platforms for young people. Murthy called for immediate action to protect kids, urging tech companies, parents, caregivers, and policymakers to take steps to ensure the safety of children online. Companies like Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, have announced steps to verify ages and provide age-appropriate experiences for teenagers on their platforms. However, several states, including California and New York, are suing Meta Platforms Inc., alleging that the company deliberately designs features that addict children to their platforms and contribute to a youth mental health crisis.
The bill also includes a ban on social media use in schools, with exceptions for email, news, gaming, online shopping, photo editing, and academic sites. Additionally, the measure mandates a model program on the effects of social media for students in grades 6-12 and requires existing anti-bullying programs to be updated. The debate over regulating social media for children continues to intensify as concerns about the impact on mental health and well-being grow. While some argue for stricter regulations, others raise concerns about potential unintended consequences and the need to balance safety with free speech and access to information.
