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Subcommittee tables bill to require parental consent for minors’ late-night social media access
Summary
The subcommittee tabled HB 1816, a proposal to require social media platforms to block minors from accessing certain social interactions between midnight and 6 a.m. unless a parent grants permission; the motion to table passed 6–4.
The Technology and Innovation Subcommittee tabled House Bill 1816, which would require social media platforms defined as media that “primarily serves as a medium for users to interact socially” to restrict minor access between midnight and 6 a.m. unless a parent or guardian consents.
Sponsor Delegate Campbell cited research from the U.S. Surgeon General and other studies linking excessive social media use with poor sleep, depressive symptoms and harms particularly among adolescent girls. "Usage of social media for 3 hours a day for our youth has doubled the risk of poor mental health outcomes," Campbell said in presenting the bill.
The bill would place the compliance obligation on platforms to verify parental consent for minors and create civil liability for violations allowing an injured party damages and costs. Witnesses and committee members raised implementation concerns: industry representatives and trade groups pointed out device-level parental controls already exist, while TechNet argued the bill’s one-size-fits-all approach could harm children who rely on late-night access for safety or privacy reasons.
After discussion, the subcommittee voted to table the bill; the roll call was recorded as 6 to 4. Supporters said the measure is a layered prevention strategy to protect adolescents’ sleep and mental health; opponents warned about implementation complexity and unintended consequences for at-risk youth.
The subcommittee did not advance HB 1816 and left the issue for further consideration and stakeholder engagement.
