Legislative subcommittee hears competing views on S.268 and H.3431 age‑appropriate design proposals

A South Carolina legislative subcommittee heard testimony on Senate Bill 268 and House Bill 3431, proposals to add an "age‑appropriate design code" to Title 39 that would require parental controls, restrict targeted advertising, add transparency and reporting requirements, and include enforcement and penalties for covered online services.

Supporters, including pediatricians, told the panel the bills are needed to protect children’s developing brains and reduce harms such as cyberbullying, exploitation and sleep disruption. "Handing kids smartphones during puberty is a recipe for disaster," said Dr. Martha Edwards, president of the South Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Edwards said pediatricians across the state support H.3431 and urged lawmakers to "take an important step toward helping us reverse the youth mental health crisis." She…