Social Media Bans (S 2968, H 7746, H 7953)

While we appreciate the concerns from some about the effects of social media on minors, we strongly opposed three pieces of legislation that would limit minors' access to social media platforms.

S 2968- This legislation would require parental consent for a minor to make an account on a social media platform. This presents numerous issues, including how parental consent is generated, age-verification tactics for all users, and limited access to content.

H 7746- This legislation would require platforms to confirm users' age to determine if there should be increased restrictions. These restrictions apply for users under 18 and creates additional restrictions for users under 13.

H 7953- This legislation would make it so that no minors under the age of 18 could have a social media account.

While these bills attempt to shield minors from online explicit content, in reality it imposes unnecessary burdens on all users' ability to access internet spaces and express themselves freely online. This is especially harmful for young people by limiting their ability to learn about the world, partake in government and political discussions, and connect with peers or find community.