Bill requiring parental consent for social media accounts in Tennessee successfully passes

A new bill passed by the Tennessee General Assembly, the “Protecting Minors from Social Media Act,” will require social media companies like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to obtain parental permission for minors to access their services starting next year. The law, spearheaded by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, aims to protect children from the potentially harmful effects of unsupervised social media use. The bill requires social media companies to verify the age of anyone attempting to create an account on their platforms and obtain express consent from a parent or legal guardian for minors. In addition, parents will have the ability to supervise their child’s account, set privacy settings, daily time restrictions, and implement breaks from accessing the account. The legislation grants the Tennessee Attorney General authority to enforce the law and prevents companies from waiving any requirements by contract. While the mechanics for age verification have not been specified, the bill has received overwhelming support in both the House and Senate. Once the bill passes through one final amendment in the House, it will head to Governor Bill Lee’s desk for signing. The bill is set to take effect in January, with the goal of empowering parents to protect their children’s social media usage and safety.

Source
Photo credit www.wkrn.com