Georgia is poised to join several other states in implementing legislation that would require parental consent for children under the age of 16 to create social media accounts.
The bill, known as Senate Bill 351, received final approval from state lawmakers and includes various provisions, such as prohibiting social media use on school devices, mandating age verification for accessing pornographic websites, and enhancing social media and internet education in schools.
The legislation, which was passed with strong support in both the House and Senate, is now awaiting Governor Brian Kemp's signature.
If signed into law, Georgia would join states like Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Utah, which have already enacted similar parental consent laws.
However, concerns have been raised about potential unintended consequences of the bill. Some lawmakers argue that it could restrict access to educational resources, such as educational videos on platforms like YouTube, in school settings.
The bill also includes provisions that would require social media services to verify users' ages by 2025 and limit their ability to target advertisements to children under the age of 16.
Additionally, the legislation aims to protect minors from accessing pornographic content by requiring age verification and imposing fines on companies that fail to comply.
These developments come amid ongoing discussions about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people. U.S.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has expressed concerns about the safety of social media for children and has called for action from tech companies, parents, caregivers, and policymakers.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced measures to verify ages and provide age-appropriate experiences for teenagers.
However, Meta and other social media companies are facing legal challenges, with several states, including California and New York, suing Meta, alleging that its platforms harm young people and contribute to a mental health crisis.
In addition to state-level actions, there have been calls for federal regulation of social media, similar to regulations for products like car seats and baby formula.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee has invited President Joe Biden to testify in a Republican-led impeachment inquiry related to allegations about his family's business dealings, which Biden has denied.