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Parents, educators and law enforcement urge House committee to back social‑media protections for under‑16s
Summary
At a House Education Committee hearing on Senate Bill 199, lawmakers heard emotional family testimony and expert evidence supporting Amendment 5, which would require parental permission for children 15 and under on major social platforms, ban certain algorithmic features, and allow enforcement through the Attorney General's consumer‑protection division. Witnesses urged changes to protect children’s mental health and safety; lawmakers pressed for clarity on enforcement and scope.
The Indiana House Education Committee heard hours of testimony on a social‑media amendment to Senate Bill 199 on Wednesday as parents, clinicians, school leaders and law‑enforcement officials urged lawmakers to adopt parental‑consent and algorithm restrictions for children 15 and younger.
Chairman Behning described Amendment 5 as an approach that would require parental permission for users aged 15 and younger on major platforms, employ age‑estimation (rather than strict verification), prohibit sale of children’s data and limit ‘‘addictive’’ algorithmic features. Enforcement, he said, would be handled through the Attorney General’s consumer‑protection division.
Family testimony set an emotional tone. ‘‘My precious daughter, Haley Paige Busby, was lured away from our home, tragically murdered by an online…
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