Bills that Restrict Minor Access to Social Media (Various)

While some of these bills failed, similar language may reappear later this session as an amendment or be reintroduced in a future session.

HB 1178: Minor access to social media, authored by Rep. King, Behning, and Rep. Jake Teshka
Status: Failed
SB 199: Various education matters, authored by Sen. Jeff Raatz , Sen. Linda Rogers
Status: Passed Committee
SB 129: Age verification for access to social media, authored by Sen. Mike Bohacek, Sen. Liz Brown
Status: Failed

Each of these bills would require social media companies to get parental consent for minors under a certain age to use social media. The age cutoffs differ (age 16 for one, age 14 for the others. And one bill would not allow users under 14, regardless of parental consent).

Each of these bills contain age verification requirements. SB 199 and HB 1178 would require ALL social media users to verify their age. And HB 1178 would require social media platforms to regularly estimate whether Indiana users are at least 14 years old based on how much time the user spends on the platform. If the company isn’t confident enough, it must treat the user as a minor. HB 1178 would also require social media companies to keep proof of parental consent and disable certain features, including push notifications, reposts, likes, and reactions. SB 199 would establish a social media curfew for minors – from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.

While we understand the concerns around minor access to social media and mental health, we oppose these bills because they would violate the First Amendment rights of minors. To be clear, parents already have the right to decide whether their minor children can use social media. The government does not have that right.

Some of the provisions in these bills go even further – violating the First Amendment rights of all Hoosiers by requiring them to hand over personal identifying information. No one should have to give up their privacy to participate online.