Subcommittee tables bill that would require parental consent for algorithmic social media feeds

A Virginia House subcommittee voted to table House Bill 1624 and refer it to the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOT) after mixed testimony from advocates, technology companies and civil-rights groups.

Delegate Delia Thomas, the bill patron, told the subcommittee she introduced the measure to “protect our children” from what she described as the addictive design of algorithmic social media feeds and to reduce exposure to harmful content. She said the bill is narrowly targeted to require parental consent for access to algorithmic, recommendation-driven feeds while preserving users’ ability to access chronological feeds and content they actively “like.”

“The reason I tell you about that personal piece is that ... HB 1624 is about protecting our children,” Thomas said. “This bill would require social media companies to make sure that there is a parental consent…