A new bill in Tennessee aims to address the issue of age verification on social media platforms. Under this proposed legislation, social media companies will be required to verify the age of individuals creating an account. Additionally, minors will need express consent from a parent or guardian in order to create an account. This bill seeks to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect young users on social media platforms.
The Protecting Children from Social Media Act, also known as Senate Bill 2097, has successfully passed the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee and is now moving forward to the full Senate for further consideration.
According to Senator Jack Johnson, a Republican from Franklin, the harmful effects of social media on children, teens, and young adults are evident. He emphasizes that young children often create social media accounts without their parents’ knowledge or consent. Johnson believes that the unsupervised use of social media by children is not only inappropriate but also poses potential harm to them.
The bill originates from the office of Gov. Bill Lee and is set to be implemented on January 1, 2025.
Social media companies are also required to enable parents to monitor their children’s accounts by providing access to privacy settings. Parents will also have the ability to set daily time restrictions and create breaks during which their children cannot use social media.
The new law empowers the Tennessee attorney general to take legal action against the company if it violates any regulations. Additionally, the attorney general can seek reimbursement for the expenses incurred during the legal proceedings.
“This legislation empowers parents to take control of their children’s social media usage,” stated Johnson, emphasizing the importance of the new law. “It outlines specific measures that social media companies need to implement in order to verify the ages of their users, ensuring the protection of Tennessee’s children and giving parents the tools they need.”
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