North Carolina is taking steps to address the impact of social media on young people by considering House Bill 301, which aims to restrict social media access for teenagers under 16. The bill proposes that social media platforms prohibit anyone 13 years or younger from having an account and require parental consent for 14 and 15-year-olds to open accounts. Existing accounts for these age groups would need parental approval to remain active.

Legislative Process and Amendments

The bill has already passed the House but awaits re-approval due to amendments added by the Senate education committee. These amendments include a mandate for the state Board of Education to update computer science standards to incorporate artificial intelligence instruction. Additionally, the state Department of Public Instruction would collaborate with N.C. State University’s William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation to develop AI training for educators.

Social media companies like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram currently set the minimum age for account holders at 13, but lawmakers are concerned about the ease with which younger children can bypass these restrictions and the potential harms associated with social media use among youth.

Penalties and Legal Actions

The proposed legislation includes penalties for social media companies that fail to comply, with fines up to $50,000 for each violation. Families of affected children could also sue companies for up to $10,000 per violation.

Social media use is widespread among U.S. teens, with 95% of those aged 13 to 17 using platforms, and over a third reporting near-constant use, according to the Pew Research Center.

Background and Broader Context

In 2024, North Carolina joined 32 other states in suing Meta Platforms Inc., alleging that its platforms contribute to a youth mental health crisis by designing addictive features. Governor Josh Stein, who was the state’s attorney general at the time, criticized Meta for misleading parents about the risks. As governor, Stein’s approval would be necessary for any state bill restricting social media use.

Meta has stated its commitment to providing safe online experiences for teens, introducing over two dozen tools to support teens and their families.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.