Minnesota lawmakers to vote on social media curbs for kids 15 and younger
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Hoping to curb the addictive qualities of social media, the Minnesota House is set to vote Tuesday on a bill that would place new restrictions on social media accounts for kids 15 and younger.
The bill would require privacy settings, age verification and parent consent for accounts owned by those children. It would also restrict features including infinite scrolling, push notifications and virtual awards for time spent on an app.
State Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, the bill’s chief sponsor, said the legislation would not restrict content but would change how the social media apps look for certain users.
“I'm hoping to prevent addiction,” she told MPR News. “I'm really trying to think ahead to my grandkids and current generation of kids that are suffering greatly from mental health issues as a result of social media.”
Despite previous lawsuits over state regulations on social media apps, Scott said since this law doesn’t affect content she believes it will survive litigation.
Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player above.
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