Indiana considering social media ban for kids
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Indiana lawmakers are considering social media restrictions for minors, a growing movement among states and countries looking to address the addictive nature of social media and its impact on kids' mental health.
Driving the news: Senate Bill 199 would require social media platforms to use age verification to prevent children under 13 from holding accounts and make kids between 13 and 18 get parental consent for access.
The big picture: At least eight other states have passed similar restrictions, though some of those have been blocked by the courts for violating free speech rights.
What they're saying: "This has zero to do with free speech," Katie Jenner, Indiana's education secretary, said in support of SB 199. "Indiana is highly supportive of free speech. This is about additive social media and its impacts on children."
- In study after study, teens say social media is making them stressed and depressed, but the time they're spending online keeps rising.
- State education officials and school leaders have supported the measure.
The other side: The ACLU of Indiana opposes the age verification measure.
- "While well intentioned," the organization says it raises "serious constitutional concerns" and strips users, including adults who must also verify their age to hold an account, of their privacy.
Zoom in: Indiana is modeling its law after Florida's, which hasn't been blocked by the courts yet.
How it would work: Age verification could be achieved through a mobile credential or third-party age verification service.
- It's the same process Indiana put in place for adult websites in the 2024 law that drove PornHub out of the state and is still in place.
What's next: The measure will be eligible for a final vote in the Senate this week.
- If it passes, it'll be sent to the House for further consideration.